Locally sourced pheasant, venison and rabbit were served to guests at a North Yorkshire pub to highlight the link between shooting estates and rural pubs.
On Tuesday, the White Bear in Masham hosted Game Night – a community supper showcasing wild meat from nearby estates, served canapé-style to around 80 local residents.
Supported by the Nidderdale Moorland Group, the evening aimed to celebrate the quality of Nidderdale’s game while opening up discussion about the role moorland management plays in supporting conservation, employment and village businesses.
Tracy Johnson, coordinator of the Nidderdale Moorland Group, said: “We wanted to do something positive to show people what’s on their doorstep and why it matters. The moorland economy supports jobs, pubs, suppliers and whole communities.
“When a shooting party books into the White Bear or any pub in the Dales, that money ripples out across the local area. Events like Game Night help people see that connection for themselves.”
Wild game also featured prominently in conversations about healthy and sustainable eating. Venison contains around one per cent fat, compared with roughly ten per cent in lamb and 11 per cent in beef, while providing high levels of protein, iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins. Gamebirds such as pheasant and grouse are also typically lower in fat and higher in protein than chicken.
Tuesday’s menu included wood pigeon in a mini Yorkshire pudding with redcurrant jelly, pulled rabbit pizza, honey and wholegrain mustard-glazed venison sausage, pheasant goujons with dips, pigeon, beetroot and spinach tart, wild mallard tikka masala, venison burgers with caramelised onion chutney, and hare and vegetable spring rolls with hoisin sauce.
Dishes were supplied by Ox Close Fine Foods in Wetherby and Beaver’s Butchers in Masham.
According to the 2024 Value of Shooting report by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, shooting contributes £3.3 billion in gross value added to the UK economy each year, supports more than 152,000 full-time equivalent jobs in England and generates £9.3 billion in wider economic activity. Pubs, hotels and restaurants are among the businesses said to benefit most directly from seasonal trade.
Susan Thomas, manager of the White Bear, said: “Rural pubs are the heartbeat of communities like Masham, and they depend to a considerable extent on the trade that shooting estates bring in.
“We’re proud that the White Bear can play its part in celebrating local game and the moorland economy that produces it. Our continued success relies on the support that field sports industries provide.”
Organisers hope to make Game Night a regular fixture, encouraging more people to incorporate locally sourced game into their diets while championing the rural businesses and traditional moorland management that underpin the local economy.
Conserve wildlife in order to kill it?
Thanks for the warning about the White Bear, another one to avoid.
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