Christchurch pub puts horsemeat on the menu

Horsemeat on sale here - but don't worry, it's on purpose Horsemeat on sale here - but don't worry, it's on purpose

A PUB is quite literally flogging a dead horse as an inventive landlord bravely trials top quality equine steak on the menu.

And perhaps surprisingly for some, diners and regulars at The Nelson Tavern in Mudeford, Christchurch, are hot-hoofing it to the hostelry to chomp down on the taboo choice of meat.

The decision to add horse to the menu follows the recent discovery of horse DNA in burgers in major supermarkets such as Tesco and Iceland.

And while the discovery has been a nightmare and caused alarm among many consumers, landlord Peter Lyon, owner of the pub, said he thinks he’s backing a winner as people are more than willing to try the controversial meat.

The pub, known for their tasty Thai food as well as more traditional dishes, is offering its diners chevaline – horsemeat – freshly imported directly from French suppliers.

“Since we have put it on the menu, we’ve never been as busy,” Mr Lyon said.

“We’re fully booked some nights and of course not everyone is ordering it but it is attracting people in.

“This is not cheap meat. This is top quality ‘chevaline’ – not the meat of some old nag.

“I can’t remember it ever being served on a menu in this country in my lifetime.

“The general consensus has been that it’s very nice – as good as beef steak, just a little more flavoursome – more of a fuller flavour. There have been a lot of jokes – our customers have a great sense of humour – but at the end of the day, it’s providing people with something a bit special.”

The dish is being sold for £10.95.

Comments(42)

rozmister says...
10:22am Tue 12 Mar 13

I'd love to try this! I've been thinking for a while, since the horsemeat scandal broke, that I liked to try horsemeat because it's lean and reasonably priced. Might have to pay them a visit!

l'anglais says...
10:43am Tue 12 Mar 13

With publicity like this, it will become so popular, the price will go through the roof then the owner will be tempted to replace it with............beef

Rational_Being says...
11:11am Tue 12 Mar 13

Soon enough an Echo restaurant reviewer will be there giving it an (undoubtedly) rip roaring review.

John T says...
11:20am Tue 12 Mar 13

Rational_Being wrote:
Soon enough an Echo restaurant reviewer will be there giving it an (undoubtedly) rip roaring review.
Neigh, no chance!

fletch for manager says...
11:32am Tue 12 Mar 13

Horse meat is lovely.. Had many a horse steak in France.

catfan says...
11:34am Tue 12 Mar 13

Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends.
Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning.
Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses.
Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.

Mike Oxbig says...
11:59am Tue 12 Mar 13

catfan wrote:
Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends.
Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning.
Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses.
Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
Misery guts.... I'm sure many people would be put of all meat if they visited an abbatoir.

bmthlad69 says...
12:00pm Tue 12 Mar 13

catfan wrote:
Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends.
Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning.
Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses.
Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
don't get on your high horse!
what about the poor chickens people eat. People have chickens as pets.

I can't see what they are doing is wrong or any different to any other restaurant.

I wouldn't mind trying it tbh.

Yum yum

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
12:15pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Have had many camping trips to France where many a horse steak has been enjoyed on the BBQ with a nice bottle of red. Can highly recommend it - not fatty, tender, very tasty.

speedy231278 says...
12:20pm Tue 12 Mar 13

People have fish as pets, and people eat fish, so why not horses? At least you don't get people riding fish in the middle of the road complaining about motorists!

outlawselfinterest says...
12:28pm Tue 12 Mar 13

There's nothing unusual about eating horse ~ it's relatively common in Belgium and The Netherlands as well as France. It good meat, and the snag is ONLY that some people keep horses as pets, unlike cows or sheep. It's a cultural issue, not one of meat quality.

Of course the xenophobes will go off on one about everything "foreign" being awful but the REAL issue has been the inaccurate labelling of some foods, NOT the fact that the meat originates from a different animal. Fortunately the Government, rather than the Wild Sensation-seeking Tabloids, have had a measured and sensible response.

The Renegade Master says...
1:03pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Tried it once, gave me the trots.

dan.hilmarsson says...
1:08pm Tue 12 Mar 13

catfan wrote:
Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends. Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning. Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses. Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
Best go cry to PETA, because it seems the general opinion is that people would happily try it.

fedupwithjobsworths says...
1:11pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I expect council Jobsworths will be testing that there is no beef in these equine steaks

awsokend says...
1:30pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I tried it once it was really tough,
too tough for me as Ive only got one tooth
the waiter did apologise though,
said i had been served a bit of leather saddle by mistake,
the gravy was good.

bmthlad69 says...
1:48pm Tue 12 Mar 13

speedy231278 wrote:
People have fish as pets, and people eat fish, so why not horses? At least you don't get people riding fish in the middle of the road complaining about motorists!
Very true regarding the fish haha

awsokend says...
1:56pm Tue 12 Mar 13

do you mean sea horses or what

bmthbouncer says...
2:51pm Tue 12 Mar 13

i remember years ago holidays in france and horse meat was common i liked it and had no concerns over the scandal i will visit this place to try horse again

H2o-hara says...
3:18pm Tue 12 Mar 13

My parents said it was widely eaten during WW2 .

retry69 says...
3:22pm Tue 12 Mar 13

very shrewd buisness move and should be congratulated

Azphreal says...
3:35pm Tue 12 Mar 13

It used to be eaten in this country and the people against it as they think of them as a 'pet' species like dogs and cats,what about the sacred cow? What about pork to Muslims and Jews? Should we stop eating them because of these peoples views? Didnt the people of Paris in WW2 eat their way through the local zoo?

Eddie's dog says...
3:44pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Asked recently 'whether I was a dog or a cat person?'............

My reply: 'after 8 years in China, I can eat either.......'

Mike_French says...
4:07pm Tue 12 Mar 13

catfan:
" Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, "

So what about all of the baa lambs?
Aww, aren't they cute bouncing around and look so pretty, doesn't stop people eating lamb chops does it?

WOC says...
4:19pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Considering horse is supposed to be a cheaper alternative to beef I think the cost of his horse meal is a tad pricey. Other than that I would have no qualms eating horsey.

l'anglais says...
4:21pm Tue 12 Mar 13

retry69 wrote:
very shrewd buisness move and should be congratulated
capitalist opportunism.
Where there is profit there is misery, look at the photo, he's serving it with fried rubbish.
No profit in good quality veg.

gemlou06 says...
4:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13

This puts me off the place even more, would never visit there!!

retry69 says...
4:49pm Tue 12 Mar 13

l'anglais wrote:
retry69 wrote:
very shrewd buisness move and should be congratulated
capitalist opportunism.
Where there is profit there is misery, look at the photo, he's serving it with fried rubbish.
No profit in good quality veg.
So are you the misery? i bet you have eaten it Mr.langlais

Horridbloke says...
4:55pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Having read this article I visited the Nelson this lunchtime and treated myself to a horse steak meal. Very nice it was too - broadly similar to beef but with a very different taste. Given the novelty value over here in Angleterre I thought the price was entirely reasonable and congratulate Mr Lyon on this shrewd move.

scoooobles says...
7:08pm Tue 12 Mar 13

People don't seem to care what they're eating or how it got there so why not make a few quid at the expense of the idiots? Very clever. Might as well chuck a few kitties on the grill and you'll make a fortune.

Linguist says...
8:22pm Tue 12 Mar 13

scoooobles wrote:
People don't seem to care what they're eating or how it got there so why not make a few quid at the expense of the idiots? Very clever. Might as well chuck a few kitties on the grill and you'll make a fortune.
Cat mmmm yes please. I wonder if it tastes like chicken?

awsokend says...
8:42pm Tue 12 Mar 13

nah tastes like badger or hedge hog
(road kill)

catfan says...
8:14am Wed 13 Mar 13

dan.hilmarsson wrote:
catfan wrote:
Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends. Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning. Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses. Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
Best go cry to PETA, because it seems the general opinion is that people would happily try it.
Dan
I suspect that you and those like you have little compassion for animals. You certainly are not in possession of the facts about animal transportation and abbatoirs in some parts of Europe.
Only rubbish views that you understand and have knowledge of.
I'm sure you would eat anything - why does that no surprise me?

l'anglais says...
9:11am Wed 13 Mar 13

retry69 wrote:
l'anglais wrote:
retry69 wrote:
very shrewd buisness move and should be congratulated
capitalist opportunism.
Where there is profit there is misery, look at the photo, he's serving it with fried rubbish.
No profit in good quality veg.
So are you the misery? i bet you have eaten it Mr.langlais
I have eaten horse as it is provided at every market throughout France.

This entrepreneur (exploiter) is taken advantage of other capitalists wrong doings.

portia6 says...
9:50am Wed 13 Mar 13

Must go and buy more Soya meat or
even vege-mince, poor Dobbin!

awsokend says...
10:52am Wed 13 Mar 13

Check my uncle out (Arthur Boyt ) on you-tube
I have had some fine dinners there
get out there scanning the road sides.

MngsMnr says...
11:37am Wed 13 Mar 13

bmthlad69 wrote:
catfan wrote:
Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends.
Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning.
Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses.
Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
don't get on your high horse!
what about the poor chickens people eat. People have chickens as pets.

I can't see what they are doing is wrong or any different to any other restaurant.

I wouldn't mind trying it tbh.

Yum yum
We don't know the half of what goes on in slaughter houses and chicken factories. A few years back our electricians worked a chicken farm. The machine was faulty and the chickens were suspended by their leg - instead of the machine chopping their heads off it was slicing off a wing - blood splattering everywhere. They were having to wring their necks to finish them off. It was an experience bad enough to deter our electricians from eating chicken ever again.

dan.hilmarsson says...
1:57pm Wed 13 Mar 13

catfan wrote:
dan.hilmarsson wrote:
catfan wrote: Frankly I wouldn't go near the place and neither would my friends. Horsemeat imported from France - where conditions for animal slaughter and transportation from where they are purchased to where they are killed often takes days, across from Eastern Europe. A trade we are trying to restrict. And you are condoning. Apart from the fact it's like eating your pets, you are encouraging an evil trade in horses. Shame on you. I have eaten at your pub - but I won't be again.
Best go cry to PETA, because it seems the general opinion is that people would happily try it.
Dan I suspect that you and those like you have little compassion for animals. You certainly are not in possession of the facts about animal transportation and abbatoirs in some parts of Europe. Only rubbish views that you understand and have knowledge of. I'm sure you would eat anything - why does that no surprise me?
I have plenty of compassion for animals. In fact I have plenty of pets (none of which have ended up on my plate). I would just never see a horse as a pet. Everytime I look at one I can't help but think about a nice juicy horse steak....
I wouldn't eat anything actually, and as you say I probably wouldn't eat it if I knew the exact origin. But until then....

uvox44 says...
3:01pm Wed 13 Mar 13

go vegan , for your health as well as the environment, as well animal welfare- and for all those dim macho types who bizarrely think eating a steak killed in some gruesome abbattior by someone else out of sight some how makes them the equivalent of the caveman hunting his prey, one your logic is broken and Mike Tyson is now a vegan - macho enough for you?

suzigirl says...
4:49pm Wed 13 Mar 13

It did make me chuckle that his name was Mr "Lyon"!

mgibbs says...
12:23pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Whilst I enjoy eating meat, I do try and to avoid buying meat from supermarkets, as I like to know where my meat comes from. There are several meat suppliers that offer full traceability of the meat they supply, right down to the herd number of the animal that was slaughtered, and the abbatoir that carried out the slaughter. I also eat a lot of meat that I have shot, skinned and prepared myself, particularly, rabbit, venison and game birds.

l'anglais says...
12:40pm Thu 14 Mar 13

uvox44 wrote:
go vegan , for your health as well as the environment, as well animal welfare- and for all those dim macho types who bizarrely think eating a steak killed in some gruesome abbattior by someone else out of sight some how makes them the equivalent of the caveman hunting his prey, one your logic is broken and Mike Tyson is now a vegan - macho enough for you?
Better than his previous diet of..... HUMAN EAR

Bournesouthmouth Downpokes says...
2:54pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Is this an on going thing, and not a limited time offer? I ask this as I will try and make my way down for lunch next week. Love my steaks, lamb, beef and pork. Of course chicken too. And duck. Have eaten wild boar before.

...my spouse has eaten deer!!

So if this is still a deal next week, will be there :)

p.s. hear rabbit is the best tasting meat there is?

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