Parson's, at 147 High Street is one of the busiest of our local butchers, offering everything that Sainsbury's doesn't and a vast amount more. Because of the queues that form here, often out the door on Saturdays, shopping here can be a bit more of a hurried and altogether less relaxing experience than at Terry's, at the bottom end of the High Street. Nevertheless, it is easy to see why Parson's is so popular and successful.
They sell all the usual meats, Norfolk Pork, English Lamb and Scotch Beef and their associated offal, and chicken and sausages of course, but thay also offer such exotica as salted pigs tails, half pigs heads, whole oxtails, meaty ribs for chinese style cooking, rabbit, smoked pork belly and lambs knuckles. There are bones to be had for soup-making. The cheerful butchers who work here know their stuff and can, if they have time, suggest ways to cook what is on offer to those unfamiliar with it. (The pigs tails are best boiled for soup, if, like me, you have to ask).
Christmas is a particularly busy time and they take orders for turkeys, capons etc. in advance. The stock very large and wonderful triple smoked hams.
Parson's can be found between Metrobet (at the site of the old Rice N Spice ) and Moda, (which is where Miche Exclusive Jewelry used to be).
Parson's is, however surprisingly easy to miss on a packed market day, as this part of the High Street can be one of the busiest choke points for shoppers flowing through the stalls. It is easy to get distracted. Aim for Chequers and walk uphill a few yards on the left pavement, or, if coming down the hill, don't go through down middle of the market but take the right hand pavement when you reach Ambrosia.