Apley Smoked Pheasant

Truly Wild. Naturally Delicious.

Apley Smoked Pheasant is a premium British game meat offering a distinctive alternative to everyday protein. Rich in flavour, naturally lean, and carefully crafted using traditional techniques, it’s a gourmet product designed for those who care about quality, provenance and taste. Whether you’re a chef creating seasonal menus, a retailer curating a premium range, or a food lover in search of something new, this is game meat at its very best.

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Product Overview

Bringing together heritage and innovation, Apley Smoked Pheasant is produced using a unique three-stage process. Each bird is first dry cured to enhance its natural depth of flavour. It’s then hot smoked over sustainably sourced beechwood, delivering a gently aromatic character. Finally, it’s cooked sous-vide — locking in moisture, tenderness and nutritional value while ensuring food safety and consistency.

Naturally high in protein, low in fat, and free from artificial additives, it offers a healthier alternative to beef, lamb, chicken or pork. With its long shelf life and exceptional versatility, Apley Smoked Pheasant is as practical as it is refined — a true celebration of British game.

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Why Apley Smoked Pheasant?

Apley Smoked Pheasant was born from a simple idea: to create the best smoked pheasant available in the UK. By combining traditional estate-reared game with modern preparation methods, we’ve developed a product that is healthy, versatile, and consistently delicious.

Everything we do is rooted in sustainability and quality — from supporting British countryside practices to minimising waste and lowering food miles. For chefs, stockists and food lovers, Apley Smoked Pheasant represents the future of game: accessible, elegant and unforgettable.

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Who’s It For?

Apley Smoked Pheasant is designed to meet the needs of chefs, retailers, and home cooks alike. For professional kitchens, it’s a flavour-forward ingredient that brings elegance and depth to modern British menus — easy to portion, quick to plate, and consistent in quality.

For farm shops and delis, it’s a standout addition to your chilled counter, combining strong consumer appeal with excellent shelf stability and minimal waste.

And for food lovers at home, it’s an easy way to bring something special to your everyday cooking — ready to slice, serve, or transform into something spectacular.

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Health & Nutrition

Apley Smoked Pheasant isn’t just delicious — it’s a genuinely smart choice for health-conscious eaters. This is wild, free-range food with no hidden extras: no artificial preservatives, no added hormones, and significantly lower in fat than traditional meats.

It’s rich in protein, naturally low in salt compared to many smoked alternatives, and ideal for those managing their weight, increasing protein intake, or looking for ways to eat more sustainably. It’s also gluten-free, keto-friendly, and suitable for freezing, making it easy to incorporate into a balanced diet.

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Provenance & Process

All our pheasants are reared on carefully managed British estates, where they roam freely in native woodlands under the care of experienced gamekeepers. Their natural diet is supplemented only with home-grown wheat, and every bird is individually checked for lead shot before preparation.

Our process reflects both traditional game preparation and modern food standards. Dry curing brings out the depth of flavour, hot smoking over beechwood adds complexity, and sous-vide cooking ensures perfect texture and food safety. The result is a smoked pheasant that’s rich, tender, and ready to serve.

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Culinary Inspiration

From elegant starters to casual lunches, Apley Smoked Pheasant is remarkably versatile. Serve it sliced with horseradish and baby leaves as a refined hors d’oeuvre, or add it to a grain salad with mango, cashew nuts and fresh herbs.

For picnics and quick bites, it shines in canapés — try it on crackers with chutney or cream cheese. Blend it into a smooth pâté with lemon and pepper, stir it through pasta with tomato and basil, or use it to elevate quiches, couscous, or scrambled eggs.

Whether you’re building a sharing board or prepping a weeknight meal, it’s a simple way to add richness, variety and elegance to your plate.

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Serving & Pairing Suggestions

To get the most from the flavour, pair Apley Smoked Pheasant with bold condiments and vibrant sides. Redcurrant jelly, fruit chutneys, or horseradish offer excellent contrast. It also works well alongside roasted vegetables, quinoa, baby spinach or herby couscous.

For drinks, a fruity Pinot Noir or a crisp, dry Riesling are ideal companions — both offering enough acidity to cut through the richness without overpowering the smoke.

Whether it’s part of a dinner party menu, a picnic spread, or a quick lunch at your desk, this is a product that turns simple moments into something more special.

Why Stock Apley Smoked Pheasant?

Chefs love its versatility and depth of flavour — perfect for canapés, light bites, or as a hero ingredient in more complex dishes. Farm shops and delis appreciate its British provenance, health credentials, and long shelf life, while consumers value the convenience of a ready-to-eat gourmet meat that fits into everyday meals or special occasions.

It’s lean, natural, and additive-free, with sustainability at its core. Sourced from British estates, processed with care, and packed for freshness — this is game, elevated.

Trade & Wholesale

We work with chefs, caterers, delis and independent retailers across the UK, supplying Apley Smoked Pheasant in vacuum-sealed packs for freshness and ease of handling. The product is available sliced or whole, with strong shelf life and excellent freezer performance.

Whether you’re looking to enhance a menu, stock your chilled counter, or offer a premium food gift, Apley Smoked Pheasant brings year-round appeal and a strong point of difference.

For trade pricing, case sizes, or bespoke supply options, please get in touch — we’re always happy to help.

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How to eat it? Apley Smoked Pheasant Recipes

Eat it & treat it just as you would smoked duck or chicken.
Protein breakfast – Add to your omelette.
Lunch – Add to a grains salad with colourful, finely chopped, mixed vegetables.
Picnic – Just slice a whole Apley Smoked Pheasant breast into your lunch box, on a bed of salad & pasta.
Snack – Have it ready in the fridge. Whenever peckish in between meals, top a cracker with some slices.
Starter – For your next dinner, have your starters plated up ready in advance, using Apley Smoked Pheasant.
Supper – It’s very satiating, so a perfect cold, light supper. Or try grilling for 1 min under your hottest grill.

Recipes

FAQs

How do I eat it? Preparation & use:

Apley Smoked Pheasant is ready to eat straight from the pack. For inspiration, see our serving suggestions and simple recipes [HERE].

How has Apley Smoked Pheasant been created?

Each pheasant is dry cured, hot smoked over beechwood, and then cooked sous-vide. This three-step method enhances flavour, ensures tenderness, and gives it a long shelf life.

Is it hot or cold smoked?

Apley Smoked Pheasant is hot smoked. After dry curing, it’s hot smoked over beechwood and then cooked sous-vide — a process that fully cooks and preserves the meat.

Can I eat it hot?

You can, but it’s best enjoyed cold. Apley Smoked Pheasant is already fully cooked, and heating can diminish its delicate flavour and texture. For best results, serve chilled or at room temperature. See recipes [HERE].

Should I heat it?

Definitely no! as it removes all the expert smoker’s preparation which provides the very refined balance of tastes. Plus it’s already been treated 3 times: dry cured, hot smoked & cooked sous vide. See recipes [HERE].

Once opened, how quickly do I have to eat it?

As with other ready-to-eat meats, we recommend consuming it within 3 days of opening.

Can I freeze it?

Yes — it freezes exceptionally well for up to 12 months. Once defrosted, the quality is virtually identical to chilled. After defrosting, eat within 3 days and do not refreeze.

How quickly does it defrost?

Roughly 45 minutes at room temperature. For a faster defrost, submerge the unopened pack in warm or cold water for around 3 minutes.

How much sugar is in it?

The pheasant is dry cured using a blend of salt and sugar, which is then washed off before smoking. Only trace amounts may remain.

When is Apley Smoked Pheasant available?

Available all year round. While traditionally enjoyed in autumn and winter, it’s perfect served cold in warmer months — ideal for picnics, platters, and summer lunches.

What breeds are these pheasants?

We use Common and Ring-neck pheasants, known for their flavour and suitability for British woodland rearing.

Where do the pheasants come from? Where are they bred?

All pheasants are reared on British country estates, mainly in Shropshire and Wales, by trusted gamekeepers with decades of experience.

What do the pheasants eat?

Pheasants forage naturally in woodland and grassland. Their diet is supplemented with British-grown wheat for optimum health and flavour.

How wild are the pheasants?

They are semi-wild, free to forage and roam in woodland environments, reflecting their natural behaviour and lifestyle.

For how long does a pheasant live?

Typically between one and two years in the wild, though some live up to three years.

Why is Apley Smoked Pheasant expensive?

Much of the cost reflects the skilled smoking process, which is carried out by a specialist smokery on our behalf. We also support sustainable British rearing and small-scale production, both of which contribute to the final price.

What are the food miles for this product?

Food miles are kept to a minimum — never exceeding 180 miles from field to shop. We prioritise regional sourcing and efficient distribution to reduce our environmental impact.

Is it a truly British product?

Absolutely. Apley Smoked Pheasant is reared, smoked, and sold entirely in the UK — supporting British estates, producers, and food culture.

Why is it not pre-sliced?

Selling it unsliced extends the shelf life to around three weeks and helps retain flavour and freshness until you’re ready to serve.

Is all the packaging recyclable?

The gold card and outer sleeve are fully recyclable, as they are plastic-free and unlaminated. The vacuum pack is not currently recyclable, but commercial customers are encouraged to return used packaging to the smokery for proper disposal.

What’s the carbon footprint of this product?

We’re proud to say the carbon footprint is low, thanks to short supply chains and minimal processing. Transport involves three courier steps totalling around 180 miles:

Raw meat to smokery – 43 miles
Smoked product to warehouse – 132 miles
Final delivery to shops – 1 to 5 miles

Whether you’re a chef planning seasonal dishes, a retailer curating a premium range, or someone looking to eat better and cook smarter — we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch today to discover more, request samples, or place your first order.