Patrick McCabe wrote a book about a Butcher Boy. Young Francie Brady – a bully and a violent young tearaway plagued with mental and behavioural problems. The book, and the film, haunted my thoughts and dreams for a good while after I can tell you.

When I caught up with the ‘Butcher Man’ – Mick McLoughlin – it was a totally different story. He’s a congenial and receptive gentleman who has a calming sway to him.

“In my game”, he tells me, “you have to be approachable and sociable because in this business it’s all about customer contact.”

You may have popped into see Mick at his fully licensed establishment at No 184 Streetly Road, Erdington. It’s known as DALE’s – as in the women in his life. There’s Dawn, his wife of 21 years, then there’s Angelina, Laura and Eleanor – the next generation of McLoughlin’s.

In fact, Dawn works with Mick as does her nephew, Karl Bushell, so it really is a traditional, family run butchers. One thing’s for sure, Mick and Dawn must get on like a house on fire working with each other day in day out.

He recalls that as a 15 year old lad, he saw her across a crowded butcher’s window as she walked home from school. He liked the cut of her and asked if he could carry her books home. She found him equally pleasing and the rest, they say, his history.

When you walk into Mick’s place, you could be in a butcher’s shop in rural Ireland. It’s one of those shops that sells a bit of everything. You’ll find the usual meat products, which are all fully traceable, but then there’s the bonus goods which the Irish miss so much when living away from home. For instance, the black and white pudding as well as pudding sticks, the unbeatable Galtee cheese, Barry’s Red and Green tea, Erin soups and casserole mixes, club orange and lemon and of course that scrumptious red lemonade.

He’s a dying breed is Mick as he’s possibly one of the last authentic Irish butchers left in Birmingham.

It’s been a challenging few years for butchers to say the least and Mick himself has suffered personally. He elaborates: “I was in partnership with another fellow. We had two shops, one in Dudley and the one here in Erdington. People no doubt recall it as Mansell McLoughlin Meats. Unfortunately due to foot and mouth and BSE scares which ensnared the country, duelled with the adverse publicity, we found that we had to call it a day. “I was despondent when we made the decision to shut shop and really didn’t have the heart to re-open again and start from scratch. Luckily, I have a very persuasive father – Nagger McLoughlin – who encouraged me to have another stab at it. “I’m so glad I did take the plunge to set up on my own some four years ago now.
“The work is demanding but the rewards are sweet. “The most enjoyable part of the job is the banter with the customers. Some days you find yourself substituting as an agony aunt, a doctor and politician all rolled into one. I could write a book about my encounters and maybe one day I will! Every day is different and you can never predict who’ll be the next person to walk through the door.”

I’m told that Mick is well-known for his appealing Christmas hampers. He said: “They prove really popular with the customers. They cost £72.50 each for a huge range of delicious food products. The attraction is that people can take their time paying for the hamper. I’ve set up a scheme that allows folk to put aside as much or as little each week to pay for it. If anyone’s interested all they need to do is contact the shop and we’ll tell them how it works.”

He’s not doing too badly at the moment catering for large companies, including a number of pubs and hotels, but he’s had to work hard for his success.

So where did it all begin? He enlightens me: “I was born in Sherrif Street, Dublin. Mom and dad uprooted and came to Birmingham when I was three years old. There was a hoard of us with my five brothers and four sisters. I don’t know how they managed to house, feed and clothe us all but manage they did. “I just kind of got into the trade as a youngster - although my first job was repairing musical instruments in a shop based on Constitution Hill at the age of 15. I only stood it for a year and left – it just wasn’t for me to be honest. “I then joined a butchers in Aston then moved on to a shop in Aston Cross to gain more experience before branching out on my own.”

He’s a busy man is Mick but like us all, he enjoys taking the time to relax. So where would we find him doing just that?
He says: “I tend to visit the usual haunts in Digbeth for a good night out although I do enjoy spending time with the family. It takes a while fitting everyone in though as there’s 33 nieces and nephews and 8 great nieces and nephews who all live in Birmingham so we’re kept fairly busy with the visiting schedules. “We also try to get back to Ireland at least once a year. If I won the Lotto I’d probably buy a place somewhere near Skibbereen in West Cork. The scenery, combined with the overall ambience and friendliness of the locals, is just enchanting.”

No doubt the misery experienced by butchers in the past few years is down to society opting for convenience and buying meat products from their local supermarket. Perhaps we should mirror the old days and reinstate loyalty amongst shoppers in favour of our local butcher.

So next time you’re in Erdington, make an addition to the shopping list and visit Mick and the team for that personal, individual service and remember, get your orders in early for those sought after hampers!