Since January 1989, Country Quality Meat on Market Street has been a trusted name in Nailsworth.
For 35 years, owner Paul Dowdeswell and his team have proudly served the community, combining traditional butchery skills with a commitment to local sourcing.
“We’ve always believed in provenance,” Paul told the Love Nailsworth Facebook page. “As much as possible, we source locally. Our lamb, beef, and pork come from PJ King’s farm in Whaddon, between Cheltenham and Gloucester. Some specialist cuts do come from further afield, but we want customers to know exactly where their food is coming from.”
Step inside the shop and you’ll find a wide range of handmade products: from sausages (all gluten-free) to burgers and speciality cuts. Venison, wild boar, and other game are supplied by trusted local sources, with everything prepared in-house.
“Our sausages took years to perfect,” Paul explains. “It was trial and error to get them right, but now they’re one of our most popular items.”
For more than three decades, Paul has run the business with the support of a small, loyal team. Fewer than ten people have worked there since opening—many staying for years.
Now, the future is already taking shape. Paul’s son Jack and long-time colleague Jack Davis will step in as partners, ensuring the shop remains in safe hands.
“I’ll be here for at least the next four years,” Paul says. “But it feels right to plan for the future.”
With its thriving independents and strong community spirit, Nailsworth has been the perfect home for Country Quality Meat. Customers who first shopped there in the late ’80s still return today—often alongside their children and grandchildren, who value the same quality, provenance, and care.
For Paul, that loyalty is everything.
“It’s not just about selling meat,” he says. “It’s about knowing our customers, standing by our values, and being part of the community.”
