People of Bermondsey : Simon Bell, owner of Bell and Sons Butchers

Jun 20

simon bell and sons butchers london bermondsey se1

Please introduce yourself and your business.

My name is Simon Bell, owner of Bell & Sons Butchers, a family run business since 2013 in Bermondsey. I have the privilege of working alongside my three children, Thomas, Hannah and Harry who have become an integral part of the business over the years.

Tell us how your Bermondsey story began?

My father was an egg merchant, supplying eggs to cafes and restaurants around London in the 60’s. I started an egg stall on the bustling Blue Market as an 18-year-old boy in 1984 which gradually evolved into a meat counter selling bacon, lamb chops & sausages. When I noticed a shift in the demographics of Bermondsey, I thought about expanding my business to a butchers shop, which was sought after in the area.

BELL AND SONS BUTCHERS BERMONDSEY LONDON — *Image via Bell and Sons*

By this time my eldest son, Thomas, had left school, so we began the journey to what is now a successful thriving business in the heart of Bermondsey. We pin our success down to the support of local people and food businesses in the area who we also supply.

Please share with us some of your most memorable moments at Bell and Sons

The most memorable moment was without a doubt the first weeks of lockdown. We had queues winding around the market, over 100 home deliveries a week and only five members of staff working around the clock, but we loved the challenge! It kept Bermondsey buzzing, whilst the rest of London was a ghost town. The supermarkets were empty but being a small business, we managed to keep up with stock and it was great that we could help our local community with getting what they need.

Another memorable moment for us, was appearing in the popular tv show The Apprentice, which was an eye-opening experience and a very early 2am start to begin filming!

bell and sons butchers london bermondsey

What’s a typical work day like at Bell and Sons?

I (Simon) leave home at 5am to make the journey up to Smithfield market to collect what we need for the day, before beating the congestion charge back to the shop for 7am. We then get the shop ready for opening at 8:30, setting up the meat counters and preparing wholesale orders for local restaurants, pubs are the Borough Market. The rest of the day is filled with making anything from burgers to chicken kievs, butchering joints of meat delivered from farms in Sussex, Yorkshire and elsewhere in the UK, whilst serving customers with a smile.

How do you feel about the changes to Bermondsey over recent years?

It’s disappointing to see supermarkets becoming the main source of produce, however in the last few years people have realised that although they are convenient, they don’t offer the same knowledge or quality of meat that an independent butcher can give. It’s encouraging that locals are returning to support local small businesses post pandemic.

**What is your favourite thing to do in Bermondsey when you are not working?**
Go to a small boutique cinema – Everyman or Kino are two great options for an enjoyable evening with food and drink served to your cinema seat!

What is your Bermondsey and SE1 secret and must-do for all visitors?

Hannah likes to visit Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen with friends on a sunny evening, Simon enjoys a glass or two of Portuguese wine from OPS Wine Bar, Druid Street and Thomas enjoys a bike ride along the Thames before stopping for a coffee at B Street Deli.