There is a meaningful difference between supermarket chicken and properly free-range, slow-grown chicken - and it goes beyond welfare, though welfare matters. Supermarket chicken is typically slaughtered at 35–42 days old, having spent its entire life indoors under artificial light, growing at a rate its body is barely built to sustain. Free-range chicken from British farms like the ones we work with lives twice as long or more, developing muscle through genuine movement and foraging on open pasture. The difference in the meat is immediate and obvious: firmer, more flavourful, with the kind of texture and depth that makes a roast chicken genuinely exciting rather than merely convenient.
Our chicken collection is sourced from independent British farms where slow growth and high welfare are non-negotiable. You'll find whole birds - the best starting point for understanding what properly reared chicken tastes like, roasted simply with butter, lemon and thyme. Chicken breasts and thighs for everything from a midweek stir-fry to a slow-cooked braise. And chicken on the bone, which
produces better stock, better sauces and a depth of flavour that boneless cuts simply cannot replicate.
For the roast, our whole chickens are best cooked low and slow - 160°C for the first hour, then a blast at 200°C for the last fifteen minutes to crisp the skin. Rest for at least ten minutes before carving. The juices from a properly reared chicken are rich enough to form a sauce on their own, with nothing added but a splash of wine and a knob of butter.
For everyday cooking, free-range chicken thighs are the cut that professional cooks reach for - more flavourful than breast, more forgiving of heat, and dramatically better value. Slow-cook them in a tomato sauce, grill them over charcoal, or braise them with wine and aromatics for a midweek meal that tastes like it took considerably more effort than it did.
All our chicken is delivered fresh across the UK. Pair with our selection of rubs and marinades for extra flavour, or browse our BBQ Meat Boxes for a curated chicken and mixed meat selection perfect for grilling.
