First game processing unit to open in 40 years

A new state-of-the-art processing and butchery plant, extending to more than 1,100m², is set to open in Berkshire in August. The new plant, Oakland Park, two minutes from the M4, can handle 40,000 deer carcasses a year, plus 15,000 gamebirds a week throughout the season. 

The project has been jointly developed by estate owner Seton Fairhurst, stalker John Prince and business entrepreneur Alan Hayward, who has more than 50 years’ experience in the butchery and wholesale meat industry. Oakland Park will donate a £1 from every carcass it processes to Eat Wild. 

John Prince said: “As a stalker, so often I would go out over three or four days and perhaps put 10 deer in the chiller, but then I would find that the dealers would not be taking them. Our whole ethos is to turn that around, and eventually to create a whole new market for game and venison and to offer shoots and deerstalkers a fair price for top-quality game and carcasses.” 

The new site will be launched with an open day on 20 July.