A BUTCHER'S in Evesham is feeling positive about its first Christmas.

Phil's Craft Butchery at the Blackminster Business Park are excited for the festive period.

Owner, Phil Woods, 31, opened the shop in September, and said he's feeling positive in the run up to Christmas: "We've taken a few Christmas orders already. Business is picking up, we're getting more people each week."

Mr Woods worked in both retail and farming for 15 years in and around the local area before he opened his butchery, so this is the perfect venture for him.

He said: "I've always wanted to open a butchery, and now felt like the right time. 

"Evesham is a good area to have a shop, there are 35 other businesses in the retail park who have been here for a long time, although I'm the only butcher."

Phil's Craft Butchery is a traditional butchers and all their produce comes from farms in the local area.

They don't have a slaughter house in the back, but they do chop the meat up themselves. 

Phil is a keen cook and enjoys dishing out his favourite recipes to customer's when they visit the shop.

Mr Woods said: "I do a lot of cooking myself, so I give people recipe ideas when they come in."

The shop is open Wednesday to Friday 8am to 5pm and 8am to 2pm on Saturday's.

Mr Woods works as a tree surgeon on Tuesdays, to help him financially, he said: "If trade picks up, I'll give up the tree surgery and open on Tuesdays."

Phil's Craft Butchery also supplies meat to several other local businesses, including The Old Chestnut Tree Inn in Pershore, Flavours restaurant in Evesham, Bidford a mobile Sri Lankan street food van called Korale Kitchen.