FACTS & QUESTIONS
Where are you located?
You can find us at 108 Elder Street, Lambton NSW 2299.
Elder Street is located in the historic coal mining town of Lambton - a suburb of Newcastle; which is about 1.5 hours North of Sydney.
What are your opening hours?
We are open Monday to Friday - 8am - 6pm, and Saturdays 7am - 1pm.
Is there on-site parking?
Our shop is located on Elder Street. There is street parking out the front of the shop. There is also a car park behind the shop, which is accessible from De Vitre Street. There is a public access walkway from here on to Elder Street.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUTCHERS MEAT AND SUPERMARKET MEAT?
As butchers, our industry is based on quality products. We are passionate about supplying meat products that are of the best taste and quality. Whereas supermarket meat is mass processed, butchers will take a single animal and divide it with care into the best possible cuts for our customers. We believe that the animal must be respected during the whole breakdown process, and we feel that the best way to honour the animal is to thoughtfully get the best cuts and to use up as much of the animal as possible - no waste. You can definitely taste the difference! Don't believe us? Come in and try us for yourself!
Is your shop wheelchair accessable?
Sadly, there is a small step up into our shop. We are more than happy to help partons into and out of the shop if assistance is needed.
Where does your meat come from?
Our meat is locally sourced, all within 4 hours of Newcastle. We take pride in selecting only the best quality meats, that have been ethically sourced and humanely dispatched.
Will you cut or prepare meat a particular way for me?
Of course! This is what we do. If you are after a particular cut, just let us know. We can trim up, cryovac, marinade or tie anything you have in mind*
*availability depending on stock.
Do you really make all your sausages and other smallgoods in house?
We sure do! All of our sausages and the vast majority of our smallgoods are made in our Elder Street shop. We take pride in our wide range of sausages, a number of which have won awards for being the best in Newcstle over the years. We are also expanding our range of small goods on offer. Check out our ranges on the sausage and rissoles and deli selection pages!
DO YOU SELL GIFT CARDS or vouchers?
Yes! If you are looking for a unique gift for the meat-lover in your life, why not grab one of our vouchers? Just let us know what value you would like next time you're in store and we will give you one of our fancy vouchers to gift away!
There's something that I'm looking for that I can't find on your website. Do you have it?
We do not update our website on a regular basis, and our stock levels do fluctuate accorging to availability and customer demand. We do try to keep a healthy stock of most products in our store, however if there's something you don't see, give us a call and we will be able to let you know what we have in stock.
Can I bulk buy?
Absolutely! For bulk orders, it is best to either call or email us directly with as much notice as possible so that we can make sure we have everything you are after in stock and ready to go. You can find our contact details here.
What are your payment options?
We will take cash or card payments in store. Card paymehts are processed through Smartpay terminals, which do have a processing fee of 3% for tap and 0% for card insert. Cheques are not accepted.
How long does meat last in the fridge?
We recommend for best eating quality to use up unpackaged meats within 48 hours of purchase. Cryovaced meats will last longer - up to 1 - 1.5 weeks.
Why is my mince brown/ grey in the middle? Does this mean it is off?
There are two types of pigmentation that are contained within fresh meat - Myoglobin (the part that comes into contact with oxygen) and metmyoglobin (The grey/ brown on the inside). When exposure to oxygen is reduced, the meat can loose it's red colour and change to the brown/grey seen. Minced meat that has been refrigereated and eaten within a reasonable timeframe should be safe. Any meat that has an off smell or feels sticky to touch should be discarded.
Can meat be re-frozen once it has been defrosted?
Once raw meat has been defrosted, we do not recommend to freeze is again unless it has been cooked. Moisture loss that occurs during the defrosting process can compromise the quality of the meat.
Do you sell Gluten free products?
We sure do! Although we are not Coeliac certified, we take extra care when we prepare our products to ensure that gluten and non-gluten products, surfaces & utensils do not meet. We have a wide range of Gluten Free products to choose from, denoted with the letters 'GF' listed next to each product.
How do I know how long to cook different cuts of meat for?
Ask the Butcher! We are more than happy to give you cooking instructions for all the cuts of meat you want to cook.
What is better? Grass or Grain fed beef?
This question really comes down to personal preference. At The Craft Butcher, we mainly stock Grass Fed Beef. The flavour of Grass fed beef can vary due to the Geographical location of the cattle, however as all of our meat comes from within a 4 hour drive from Newcastle, we've found our meat flavours to be relatively consistent.
What if I am unhappy with the producty I have purchased?
We are sorry to hear this! Our trade revolves around quality and customer satisfaction, so if you are not happy with the quality of your purchase, let us know and we can organise a replacement or refund. You can contact us here.