Minister Has Second Calling At Yorkshire Deli

Ben Nicholson will be combining his role as assistant curate at Helmsley church with his new position at the North Yorkshire business. Formerly called Pern’s, the shop will continue to offer locally sourced foods as well as developing a new range of ready meals, sandwiches and sausages.

A local man, Mr Nicholson actually used to live above the store when he was a young boy and worked on the butchery counter alongside his grandfather. “I love being back at the shop and I think the customers like the fact I am a familiar face – though there has been some funny reactions if I happen to be wearing my dog collar!” says Mr Nicholson, who is responsible for taking services, weddings and christenings at the church.

“My father taught me that the secrets of a successful butcher are good skills, good old fashioned service and, above all, an interest and passion for what you’re doing. I’m hoping to bring all that to the butcher’s block at the deli.”

Mr Nicholson is already getting involved in developing new products for the business. “I love devising recipes from scratch – especially as all the wonderful meat for the shop is farmed locally. Everything else – from the pâtés to the pies – is produced in the back kitchen, and my main focus over the coming months will be developing a new range of ready meals.”

His traditional sausages were also in the spotlight recently when they were a regional finalist in Britain’s Star Sausage competition. Judged by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, the competition was run in conjunction with British Sausage Week last month.