A Phillip Warren Butchers shop in Launceston, Cornwall, has been awarded membership to the Butchers Q Guild, boosting the national membership to almost 130.

The business runs three shops, two in Launceston and a third in Liskeard, and it is the Pennygillam Industrial Estate shop at Dunheved Court, Launceston, which has now become a member of the guild.

Philip Warren Butchers was first established in Launceston in 1880 as a farm shop reckoned to be the oldest in Cornwall.

As well as professional butchers, the family are also farmers, rearing and selling indigenous breeds of native British cattle, such as Red and South Devons, Aberdeen Angus, Welsh Blacks, Dexters, Herefords and Galloways.

The business has also developed field-to-plate supply partnerships with many other small farmers on the margins of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, and throughout the grasslands of the Tamar Valley in-between.

Among them are specialist pig farmers who supply the business with rare breed porkers, including Saddlebacks, Tamworths and Berkshires.

Ian Warren, managing director at Phillip Warren Butchers, said: "As well as a progressive and vibrant retail business, we have also built up great relationships with many Michelin star chefs throughout England.

“We were keen that our Pennygillam shop should be a member of the Q Guild and become part of a UK-wide team of like-minded butchers who have the same passion within the trade as ourselves.”

Gordon Newlands, Q Guild manager, said: "We warmly welcome Philip Warren Butchers Pennygillam to our ranks.

"Like all our members they are at the top of their game and are keen to utilise the Guild membership for ideas and innovation.

"We look forward to their participation in regional meetings, social and product evaluation events.”