Hampshire Trout: From Chalk Stream to Smokery
What makes Hampshire trout different?
It comes down to the water.
Hampshire's chalk streams begin as rain falling on the chalk downland, which soaks slowly through the rock before rising again as springs. By the time it reaches the river it is clear, cool, rich in minerals and remarkably steady in temperature all year round.
That steady, clean flow supports thick beds of weed and huge numbers of mayflies, caddis and other insects, which in turn make the Test, Itchen and Meon some of the most celebrated trout rivers in the world. The angling writer Charles Rangeley-Wilson described chalk streams as "constant, equable, cool, fertile", and you can taste the difference in the fish. Hampshire trout has clean, delicate flesh, without the muddy notes you sometimes find in trout from slower, warmer water.
If you would like to go deeper into the geology and wildlife, read our guide to Hampshire's chalk streams and why rainbow trout thrive in them.
Rainbow trout or brown trout?
Two kinds of trout live in Hampshire's rivers.
Brown trout are the native wild fish, prized by fly fishermen and rarely sold. Rainbow trout originated in North America and are raised by trout farmers along the chalk streams. They thrive in cool, clean water and are the trout you will find at a good fishmonger or on a restaurant menu.
All of our fresh and smoked trout is Hampshire-raised rainbow trout from the Test, Itchen or Meon.
From river to smokery in 24 hours
Our smokery sits in Winnall, on the edge of Winchester, a short distance from all three rivers.
That short journey is the whole point: our trout is prepared for smoking within 24 hours of being sourced.
All our fish are prepared by hand and cured in our own brine. For our hot smoked trout, we then smoke it over an aromatic mix of apple, oak and a little hickory, which cooks the fish gently and leaves it moist, flaky and golden. Our cold smoked trout is again smoked with apple, oak and hickory at a low temperature, so it stays silky and can be sliced thinly like smoked salmon. Our trout gravadlax is not smoked at all, but cured with fresh dill, salt, lemon zest, fresh horseradish and a touch of botanical gin.
Our founder, Richard Butler, is a keen fly fisherman. Butler Country Estates began when friends tasted his homemade smoked trout pâté at a dinner party and started ringing up to ask for more.
Ways to buy Hampshire trout
Smoked Hampshire trout
- Hampshire Smoked Trout Fillets: our best-selling hot smoked fillets, awarded 3 stars at Great Taste 2026. Ready to eat, warm or cold.
- Whole Hampshire Smoked Trout: a whole hot smoked fish with a golden skin, perfect as a centrepiece for a buffet or sharing board.
- Side of Hot Smoked Hampshire Trout: a whole side, ideal for parties and family gatherings.
- Hampshire Cold Smoked Trout: thinly sliced and silky, a lighter alternative to smoked salmon.
- Trout Gravadlax: cured with dill and gin, awarded Silver at the Great British Food Awards 2026.
Smoked trout pâté
Our smoked trout pâtés are made in Winchester from our own hot smoked Hampshire trout, in ten varieties, including dairy-free options. The Classic Smoked Trout Pâté won Gold at the Great British Food Awards 2025, and the Smoked Trout Pâté with Beetroot & Horseradish earned 2 stars at Great Taste 2023.
Fresh Hampshire trout
Prefer to cook it yourself? We also sell fresh Hampshire rainbow trout as whole fish, fillets and whole sides. Fresh trout is quick to cook, mild in flavour and works anywhere you would use salmon.
Not sure where to start?
Our Smoked Trout Hamper brings together smoked fillets, cold smoked trout, gravadlax and pâté with the sauces and crackers to go with them. It is the easiest way to taste the whole range, and it makes a very good gift.
Hot smoked or cold smoked?
Hot smoked trout | Cold smoked trout | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Cooked, flaky and moist, like a roast fish | Raw-cured, silky, sliced thin |
| Flavour | Rich and smoky, with sweetness from the apple wood | Delicate and lightly smoky |
| Best for | Salads, pasta, kedgeree, jacket potatoes, eating warm | Blinis, bagels, canapés, scrambled eggs |
| Try | Smoked trout fillets | Cold Smoked Trout |
Both are ready to eat straight from the pack.
How to enjoy Hampshire trout
Hampshire trout is wonderfully versatile. A few favourites from our smoked trout recipes:
- Smoked trout pasta with creamy dill sauce: a quick midweek supper using flaked hot smoked fillets.
- Hot-smoked trout kedgeree: a lighter twist on the classic brunch dish.
- Smoked trout bagel sandwich: cold smoked trout, cream cheese and a squeeze of lemon.
- Trout en croûte: fresh Hampshire trout baked in pastry, perfect for a dinner party.
Trout is also an oily fish, a good source of protein and omega-3. Read more about the health benefits of eating smoked trout.
Where to buy Hampshire trout
- Online, delivered across the UK. Order on our website for next-day national delivery, packed to stay chilled in transit. We also offer free local delivery to selected Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth postcodes; see our FAQ for days and areas.
- Click & Collect. Order online and choose "Click & Collect" at checkout to pick up from our smokery.
- The Troutlet, Winchester. Our own trout shop at the smokery: Unit 3B, Wintex House, Easton Lane Business Park, Winchester SO23 7RQ. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, with free parking and step-free access. Find out more about The Troutlet.
- Farmers' markets. You will find us at markets across Hampshire and Surrey. See where we are next.
- For restaurants, cafés and shops. We supply Hampshire trout to the trade. See trout for hospitality.
Award-winning Hampshire trout
We're proud to have been awarded the top accolades for our products:
- Hampshire Smoked Trout Fillets: Great Taste 2026, 3 stars
- Trout Gravadlax: Great British Food Awards 2026, Silver
- Classic Smoked Trout Pâté: Great British Food Awards 2025, Gold
- Smoked Trout Pâté with Beetroot & Horseradish: Great Taste 2023, 2 stars
Read what the judges said on our awards page.
Taste the chalk streams
From smoked fillets to fresh whole fish, Hampshire trout is the taste of some of the clearest rivers in the world, smoked by hand a few miles from where it was raised. Order online for delivery anywhere in the UK, or come and see us at The Troutlet in Winchester.
Hampshire trout FAQs
Is Hampshire trout farmed or wild? The trout we sell is rainbow trout farmed on the Rivers Test, Itchen and Meon. The wild brown trout in Hampshire's chalk streams are prized by anglers and are rarely sold.
Is smoked trout ready to eat? Yes. Both our hot smoked and cold smoked trout are ready to eat. Hot smoked trout can also be warmed through gently.
How should I store it? Keep it in the fridge and eat it by the date on the pack. Storage and freezing advice for each product is on its product page.
Do you deliver outside Hampshire? Yes. We deliver across the UK with next-day delivery, and our trout is packed to stay chilled in transit.
Where is your smokery? In Winnall, Winchester, a few minutes from the Test, Itchen and Meon. You can buy from us there at The Troutlet.
