Peter James

This is a dying breed (no pun intended). A local butcher who offers good, old-​fashioned service, who knows his customers by name, and who only opens four days a week because he likes to go fishing instead.
Peter James has been here for years; on a Saturday the shop is rammed with regulars. You’d never find the shop if someone didn’t tell you where it is; down an unassuming side road in the very residential area of Crofton Park, nowhere near the main drag. Yet he is swamped at the weekends, because he provides such a great service. He’s not cheap, particularly, but that personal touch is worth it. He can source almost any game (partridge and quail and pheasant, when in season), offers deli meats and things like curry sauces, fresh vegetables, and frozen fish from Billingsgate market. He even does cashback! On his 25^th anniversary he gave two bottles of wine away to every customer. And his dry sense of humour has the queue smiling, even though you’ll wait a good 15 minutes to be served at busy times. All in all, a place that should be preserved and cherished.