Lisa’s Larder

Producer: Lisa’s Larder, Hampshire
Product: Shoulder of Keyhaven hogget
Region: London and the South East
Category: From the Field (Primary)

What they do
Lisa’s lambing enterprise began with a 40th birthday gift of three ewes and two shearlings in 2009. These were the founding members of her Zwartbles flock which have since been crossbred with Easy Care, Lleyn and Suffolk breeds to produce lamb that matures well and is lean and large. The farm’s policy is to keep all its ewe lambs and today the flock numbers 80 breeding females. 

Home to Lisa’s Larder, Aubrey Farm is part of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, and the Zwartbles flock are key in maintaining a meadow by the sea at Keyhaven. Here the sheep and their young graze freely, with the herby pasture and sea breeze all contributing to the Keyhaven lamb’s distinctive flavour. Every year the farm hosts a Lambing Live Farm Open Day to raise money for charity and offer the public a glimpse into farming life, with 1,000 children having been given this opportunity so far.

The carefully selected C&S Meats abattoir in Dorset processes the lambs before they are hung at Blackmore Vale Butchery for between 10-14 days. Finally, the carcasses are butchered on site at Aubrey Farm and sold through Lisa’s Larder. Renovated from a disused farm building, this outlet launched in response to demand in 2012, and opens its doors to queues of customers twice a month. The shop also stocks a small range of local produce, predominantly from the surrounding areas of Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. 

Various media appearances have heightened the Keyhaven lamb’s renown, but the team maintain that production has been increased only as quickly as nature will allow.

What the judges said
The London and South East judging panel thought Lisa’s Larder was an excellent, all-rounded example of a passionate local producer championing their region’s strength and diversity. One judge commented on Lisa’s sense of genuine pride in her product, noting that it “seems real without any hype.”

Visit the website:   lisaslarder.com