Game for It

Northumberland-based entrepreneur Silver Sheldon of Hadrian’s Game Larder has been nominated for the Game Champion of the Year at the Countryside Alliance Awards taking place this June! The Countryside Alliance Awards, now in its 14th year, has seen around 17,000 applications by a range of rural business across the UK in categories such as local food, shops, rural enterprises and pubs.

Known as the ‘Rural Oscars’, the much-coveted event sees Ms Sheldon hoping to bring the award back to the North-East for the second year running; last time the award was won by Blagdon Farm Shop. A champion’s reception will be held at the House of Lords in Westminster and the winner will be revealed.

Founded around 6 years ago, Hadrian’s Game Larder has been a prolific name across Northumberland and has been busy putting game-based food products back on the map and our plates.

“I’m incredibly excited that we’ve been shortlisted. Last autumn the business narrowly missed out on being an Eat Game Awards’ winner, so to have a second chance in less than a year to bring another significant honour back to the North East, is amazing.
“Being in the final is a feather in the cap not just for me and my business, but the whole of the North East game industry. It reinforces just how strong our offering is, and shows that the passion, conscientiousness, success and innovation of those working within the game sector, has not gone unnoticed.” Silver Sheldon

Hadrian’s Game Larder is not only just a name promoting wild game. The company also rears its own pheasants, partridges and ducks, runs a processing facility in Ponteland, provides outside catering and also has a bakery where game-filled delights are created including pies, pates, Scotch eggs, sausages and fillets. You can find these delicious products at farmers markets and food festivals across the county.

As an ambassador for the Taste of Game, an organisation which promotes the use of game meat as an environmentally-friendly and tasty alternative to other meats we eat habitually, Ms Sheldon regularly advocates the use of game products in a variety of dishes across social media, in local newspapers and also at her market stalls. More recently, Silver Sheldon has brought game into the street food market.

You can find Hadrian’s Game Larder at Hexham Farmers Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, at Alnwick Farmers & Craft Market on the last Friday of the month and at Morpeth Farmers Market every Saturday.

Hexham butcher’s Robson & Sons also stock Hadrian’s Game Larder products.

“Silver Sheldon is a true champion of game, and her exacting standards means her field to fork ethos only uses the highest quality game and local produce, meaning her business grows year on year.” Sarah Lee, Countryside Alliance Awards Director.

Hungry For Game?

What do you think of game meat? Have you been converted to the flavours of game by Silver and the Hadrian’s Game Larder products? Join the conversation on social media. Follow Foodful on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.