The Story of Burnside Farm

Burnside Farm begins its story on the beautiful, remote banks of the River Tweed on the Rutherford Estate near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, an estate with a rich history, dating back to the 12th Century; Rutherford being one of the oldest names in the Borderlands.

In 1986, Burnside Farm was established by Johnny and Susie Rutherford to supply Scotland’s leading chefs and restaurants and local communities with outstanding local and seasonal produce.

Nearly forty or so years on, Burnside Farm is now one of the UK’s leading game specialists, supplying directly from their farm to households, businesses and Michelin-starred restaurants around the UK. Johnny tells us that Burnside Farm not only produces award-winning game (by which they have won many awards) and other produce, but the farm is also an example of their passion to sustain and celebrate the heritage and tradition of the region.

Superior Produce to Innovative Dishes

Burnside Farm has had an interesting and varied history of selling a wide range of produce. After their French inspiration to bring in guinea fowl and ducks, in the 1990s, Johnny and Susie stopped rearing duck and guinea fowl and started selling wild Scottish game to places such as France and Holland. This was also a time when the farm produced duck eggs for the Chinese communities in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.  

Then in the 2000s, the farm sold turkey, beef, lamb and chicken to restaurants around the UK, and of course, game. When Covid hit in 2019, Johnny and Susie focused on selling direct to customers at home and a handful of restaurants in the UK with wild Scottish game. They are also passionate about selling their produce at Kelso’s farmer’s market in the Scottish Borders.

"Over the years, we have also supplied our produce to many different and exciting projects and programmes including the Great British Menu. One year, we were invited to programme’s ‘Final Banquet’ which was a thrill to see our produce used in such innovative ways." 

How does Le Chameau fit in around your country lives?

"Le Chameau boots are the work horse of our daily life, there is very rarely a day when we are not to be found in wellies, from first thing in the morning walking the dogs, to last thing in the evening bringing the horses into their stables. We have tried all other brands, but Le Chameau are the only ones that provide warm feet, comfort and durability, lesser boots will let you down in one of these areas.

"When you have extremely low temperatures like here in Scotland, you need boots that will keep you warm and comfortable and Le Chameau gives you that quality. We are keen on fishing as well, so they are great for when we’re out on the banks of the River Tweed." 

Making a Difference: Excellence Through Food

Burnside Farm supplies top chefs and restaurants and homes in the UK week-in, week-out with wild Scottish game including venison, pigeon, partridge, pheasant and grouse. Johnny says, "We always wanted to offer a range of outstanding products that you could cook at home and were a healthier option than eating processed foods; restaurant-standard, exceptional ingredients that were very easy to cook. 

"If you are in the area, make sure to visit us at the monthly farmer’s market in the charming town of Kelso, the last Saturday of every month. We’ll always have something special on our stall for you to enjoy!"

For the last 3 years, Burnside Farm has been working with the Country Food Trust, processing wild game that is made into a wild game curry in easy vacuum pack pouches. Through generous donations this is now supplying food banks, the homeless and those in food poverty up and down the country. 

Working with the Finest Chefs

One particular chef they have worked with for over thirty years is Fred Berkmiller, Owner and Executive Chef at l’escargot bleu on Broughton Street in Edinburgh. The restaurant serves classic French dishes and offers true hospitality in a charming environment. Fred is passionate about sourcing exceptional produce, Burnside Farm being one of those producers.

The restaurant is the first ‘Pasture for Life Certified’ restaurant in the UK, which means that all their beef and dairy is sourced from farmers who rear their animals on a 100% pasture fed diet. Pasture fed farming is seen to be a positive way of farming the land and animals; encouraging biodiversity on-farm whilst producing food that is high in nutritional value.

Le Chameau shot their autumn and winter campaign on the Rutherford Estate, capturing our iconic range of boots handcrafted by master bootmakers.