The meat auction.

[Workingman]

Just seen it on the news - Smithfield Market..

Our neighbour, Henry T, had a butcher's shop in Leeds market. On Saturdays he did 'pick a bag' deals around closing time. They were laid out on a table in front of the shop and you took a chance - sausages, mince, stewing steak, it was all there. He would then hawk any left over bags round the streets for a few bob a bag. He always had a 'special' one for mum because of my brother who was disabled.

Happy days.

[cromwell]

I remember this!

Someone coming round the pubs selling meat when I was at Uni in Manchester; usually in the last hour of opening time.
People who had sunk six or seven pints getting their hand in their pocket to buy some bargain meat; when I did it I usually ended up looking at it the next morning and realising that it wasn't really that much of a bargain!

[Workingman]

Was it just a "northern" thing Cromwell?

Henry's bags had lots of liver and kidneys in them as well as casserole meat and stewing steak. And, yes, he went round the pubs. Anything for a bob or two.

[Kaz]

I remember them in pubs in Yorkshire, and Mick just said he remembers them here too - so not just oop North