The Chopping Block

The Chopping Block is a relatively new addition to Penrith’s foodie landscape – it only opened in 2019, but already it’s making its mark.

There are three parts to the Chopping Block: the deli, the butcher, and the café, all of them packed with deliciousness.

The café menu changes regularly, so you’ll never be bored. Open for brunch, lunch, deli boards or a coffee, the Chopping Block café takes its ingredients from the produce sold in the shop. This means everything is incredibly fresh, and means you’re served with a scrumptious combination of local produce and the best internationally sourced goods.

In the deli, you’ll find shelves overflowing with relishes and conserves, savoury snacks, pies, olives and antipasti, as well as a whole array of kitchen staples. Why not pair up something deliciously alcoholic (local gin, anyone?) with a selection of cheese and charcuterie – so that whether you’re stopping for a coffee, or stocking up for a picnic, the Chopping Block will have plenty to choose from. For those with a sweeter tooth, there are biscuits and cakes from local bakers, and confectionary to make your mouth water.

You’ll find the Chopping Block in Penrith’s New Squares, which is fitting for such an up-and-coming business – though it isn’t all modern innovations, as the Chopping Block also stocks some of the finest traditional Cumbrian produce around. In the butchery, for instance, the meat is all sourced locally, some from family farms that marry contemporary farming with traditional land management.

The Chopping Block blends the old and the new aspects of the Eden Valley, and so can create a unique palette that is entirely to your taste. Chris, who started the business, is also all about sustainability and good provenance – which is another reason you’ll find so many locally sourced foods here, and why you’ll find very little plastic packaging on the shelves.