A MUCH-loved Bromsgrove butchers is calling for help to replace their oven after one of their ‘hardest years yet.’
Butcher’s Block, which has raised thousands for local charities in the past, is putting itself first after finding itself in dire need of replacing its oven.
It is estimated to cost over £2500 to replace the oven, so the butchers in the High Street are holding a raffle competition where you can win £400 worth of goodies.
The butchers opened seven years ago and is run by Michelle Holsey Sheppard and her wife Lilith.
The couple said: “We love what we do, but things haven’t always been easy.
“With insane energy costs, rates, rent, fluctuating product costs, and the relentless summer of road works all across Bromsgrove, it’s made 2025 one of the hardest years in business yet.
“We are very proud of what we’ve brought to Bromsgrove, but we are at a constant stalemate where budgets for new equipment are concerned.”
After raising over £6,000 for local causes over the last seven years, Michelle and Lilith said they felt embarrassed to do a fundraiser for themselves.
They added: “We’ve opened up to regulars about the difficulties in finding money to replace equipment, and many said they’d support us if we crowd-funded for a new oven.
“We’ve finally decided to put ourselves first and so doing our biggest raffle to date, with a prize pot value of over £400, all to help raise money to go to a new oven.”
The raffle will feature prizes, including one of each of their festive hampers, a meal for two with drinks at Verraco Lounge, and a bowling for five and games bundle from Hollywood Bowl Rubery.
Raffle tickets cost £5 per strip and will be drawn at the end of the day on December 20.
Despite raising cash for their own shop, the Butchers Block team will still be supporting local charities this Christmas, with a goodie bag collection for The Basement Project.
The shop is also having a memory tree where people can hang a decoration in memory of a loved one, with people able to donate to Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer if they wish.
Tickets for their raffle are available in store, or theres a GoFundMe link if people just want to donate.
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/new-oven-fund? to donate or visit Butcher’s Block Bromsgrove on Facebook for more information.
