Game changers
We asked five of the country’s best wild food chefs for their top hacks which will make preparing and cooking game easier and fun.
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A bright future for game
Let’s cut to the chase. Wild game meat is free-range, flavoursome and brimming with health benefits. Game is lean, high in protein and sustainably sourced from the British countryside. This year’s Eat Game Awards proved, once again, that there is so much to celebrate about the UK game meat sector.
Held at the stunning Soane Hall in Marylebone, the event brought together passionate producers, chefs, butchers, influencers, educators and businesses. Together, they are helping to drive the growth of game on menus and dinner tables across the UK.
The Eat Game Awards wasn’t just about handing out awards – it was a celebration of craft, community and countryside heritage. And, crucially, it was a night to showcase how delicious and versatile game meat really is.
A well-earned win for Ragley Estate Butchers
One of the standout honours went to Ragley Estate Butchers, crowned Best Butcher for 2025. The award was fitting recognition of their excellence in sourcing and preparing wild venison from their own estate. With The Game Fair returning to Ragley Hall later this year, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Ragley Estate sits in the heart of Warwickshire and is more than just a stately home. It’s a working estate that places sustainability and traditional land management at its core. Wild deer are stalked on the estate by skilled deer managers and brought directly to the butchery. There the venison is carefully prepared for the shop.
“We’re absolutely over the moon,” said Karl Mould, head butcher at Ragley. “To make the final three was an achievement, but to win is incredible. Demand for venison has tripled in recent years and that’s thanks to growing awareness and appreciation for game meat.”
Ragley Estate’s approach to venison is a model of best practice. The meat is local and ethically sourced – the ideal field to fork journey. Butchers like Ragley Hall deserve huge credit for their role in leading the way in making game more accessible to all.
The Inn Collection Group
Also taking home a well-deserved Eat Game Award this year was The Inn Collection Group. They wowed the judges with their prune and venison pie, earning them the title of Best Added Value Product. Described as “next level” by the judging panel, the pie perfectly demonstrates how game meat can be elevated into something comforting, creative and absolutely delicious.
The Inn Collection Group has award-winning pubs with rooms across some of the UK’s most scenic spots. Their inns can be found from their origins in Northumberland to the Lake District and down into Wales. Passionate about using local and seasonal ingredients, they’re helping introduce game to a wider audience through hearty and imaginative dishes.
“The sales of the pie across our sites have been phenomenal,” said Chris Moor, operations director. “It’s brilliant for us and brilliant for Northumberland, too. It means British wild game is being enjoyed far and wide. Demand is growing and we’re proud to keep game on the menu.”
This sort of creative cookery plays a vital role in helping people rediscover game. It’s no longer just something for special occasions or the shooting season – it’s everyday good eating, packed with flavour and goodness.
Game on – why it matters
Behind the Eat Game Awards is a bigger picture. Eating game is good for you; it’s low in fat, high in iron and omega-3s. When sourced sustainably from the British countryside, it’s also good for the environment. And when it’s handled with care by experts like the team at Ragley Estate or crafted into pies by chefs at The Inn Collection Group, it’s also incredibly tasty.
The Eat Game Awards scheme isn’t just about recognising excellence. It’s about raising awareness, sparking ideas and encouraging more people to give game a go.
So, whether you’re picking up wild venison from Ragley Estate Butchers, enjoying a stay and a pie at one of The Inn Collection Group’s lovely locations, or simply looking for something different and delicious cook at home, now’s the perfect time to put game on your plate.
To find out more about game meat and where to buy or enjoy it, visit Eat Game. And keep your eyes peeled for 2026 Eat Game Awards launching later this year. It’s your chance to show appreciation for your favourite game heroes.
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BASC Media team
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