Croot's Country Store

16/01/2026

Food Friday: Venison Shank & Root Vegetable Hotpot

A proper comfort dish using Cowal Deer venison shin, slow cooked until tender and full of flavour.

You’ll need:
Venison shank
1 onion
Carrots and parsnips
2 cloves garlic
Venison or beef stock
Thyme and bay leaf
Potatoes, thinly sliced
Butter

How to make it:
Brown the venison shin well and set aside. Soften the onion and garlic, then add the venison back to the pan with stock and herbs. Simmer gently for 2–3 hours until tender. Transfer to an oven dish, top with sliced potatoes and a few k***s of butter. Bake until golden and bubbling.

Local venison, cooked slowly, makes all the difference.

All venison supplied by Cowal Deer, locally sourced and processed with no food miles.
Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

14/01/2026

Dog of the Month – Final Reminder

Just a reminder that our Dog of the Month competition is closing soon, so there’s still time to enter if you haven’t already.

What you can win:
• A Dog of the Month certificate
• A £10 voucher to spend in store at Croots Country Store

How to enter:
Simply submit a photo of your dog and a short description.
No purchase required.

Important dates:
• Last entries: 11.59pm on Friday 30th January
• Winner announced: 3pm on Saturday 31st January

Enter here:
https://www.crootscountrystore.com/dotm-application

We love seeing all your dogs, so don’t miss out.

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

13/01/2026

Why Cowal Deer Venison Makes Sense

Cowal Deer venison has become one of our most popular products, and for good reason.

This is local wild venison, sourced from the hills and forests around Cowal and processed locally, right here in town. That means zero food miles, full traceability, and no unnecessary transport at any stage.

We believe in using the whole animal with no waste, turning a regenerating natural resource into high-quality food. Nothing is added, nothing is imported, and nothing is over-processed — just honest, natural meat.

Why customers keep choosing Cowal Deer venison:
Locally sourced and locally processed
Zero food miles
Sustainable and environmentally responsible
Lean, high in protein, and full of flavour
Excellent value compared to imported meats
Supports local jobs and a local food system

Because everything is done locally, we’re able to offer great quality at fair prices, without compromising on ethics or sustainability.

Whether you’re buying steaks, mince, slow-cook cuts or burgers, Cowal Deer venison is food you can feel good about putting on the table and at the best prices in town.

Available in store at Croots Country Store.
Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

10/01/2026

We’ve already had 3 lovely new entries for this month’s Dog of the Month competition, and we know there are plenty more dogs out there waiting for their turn. Have you entered yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

Whether your dog is daft, dignified, scruffy, sleepy, or always up to mischief, we’d love to see them. Every dog has a story, and this is their chance to shine.

How to enter:
Entering is quick and easy. All you need is a photo of your dog and a short description telling us a bit about them.
Enter online here: https://www.crootscountrystore.com/dotm-application

No purchase needed.

What can you win?
The winning dog will be crowned Dog of the Month, receive a certificate, and win a £10 voucher to spend at Croots Country Store.

Important dates:
Last entries close at 11.59am on Thursday 29th
The winner will be chosen and announced by 3pm the same day.

Don’t miss out — grab your favourite photo, give your dog the spotlight they deserve, and get entered today.

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

06/01/2026

DOG OF THE MONTH – JANUARY

New Year, new competition

A brand new year means a brand new Dog of the Month at Croots Country Store.

If your dog deserves a bit of recognition (and a treat), this one is for you. Simply enter your dog into our January Dog of the Month competition for the chance to win:

The prize:
• A Dog of the Month certificate
• A £10 Croots Country Store voucher to spend in-store or online

There’s no purchase required and no theme this month. Just send us a photo of your dog along with a short description and you’re in.

The winning dog will be announced at the end of January and featured on our page.

Enter here:
https://www.crootscountrystore.com/dotm-application

Just a reminder to last months winner, Hudson Pickles, you still need to collect your prize!

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

05/01/2026

03/01/2026

Happy weekend from all of us at Croots Country Store. We hope everyone had a lovely time over the last couple of weeks as the festive period came and went. It has been great to welcome customers back in, and we are now returned to our normal opening hours for the new year.

If you are heading out this weekend, we have everything you need for winter walks, bird feeding, dog treats, country clothing, and of course our full range of Cowal Deer venison. New lines will be arriving throughout the year, and we look forward to showing you what’s coming.

Wishing you a warm and peaceful weekend.

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

02/01/2026

Venison steaks pair beautifully with the tartness of cranberries, making a simple but impressive festive meal. Sear your steaks quickly, then deglaze the pan with red wine and a spoon of cranberry sauce to create a classic winter gravy. Serve with buttery mash or roasted parsnips for a seasonal plate that feels indulgent without any extra effort.

Cut suggestion: Venison loin steaks or haunch steaks
Difficulty: 2/5
Serves: 2

Ingredients
2 venison steaks
1 tbsp oil or butter
Salt and black pepper
100 ml red wine
150 ml beef or game stock
1 heaped tbsp cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
1 sprig thyme or rosemary (optional)

Method
Bring steaks to room temperature and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat oil or butter in a hot pan. Sear steaks 2–3 minutes per side for medium-rare depending on thickness, or longer if you prefer well done.
Remove steaks to a warm plate to rest.
With the pan still hot, add the red wine and scrape up browned bits. Let it reduce by half.
Add stock, cranberry sauce, and mustard. Simmer for 5–10 minutes until slightly thickened.
Stir in herbs if using, then strain if you prefer a smooth sauce.
Serve steaks with the warm cranberry jus poured over the top.

Spend £20 on venison cuts and get a free pack of burgers.

Croots Country Store, Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE. Call 01369 760284 or browse online at www.crootscountrystore.com.

01/01/2026

A Happy New Year from all of us at Croots Country Store. We are looking forward to welcoming our customers, old and new, back into the shop for a fresh year ahead.

Thank you for supporting a local, family-run business throughout 2024. Your visits, your choices to shop locally, and your conversations at the counter make a real difference to us and to our community.

We have new lines arriving throughout the year, from outdoor clothing to dog products, bird feed, gift items, and of course our locally sourced Cowal Deer venison. We hope there will be something special for you each time you visit.

We look forward to seeing you soon, and we wish you a healthy and peaceful start to 2025.

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

30/12/2025

Early Closing Notice

We have been advised that the Marina will be closing at 4.00pm today. As a result, Croots Country Store will be closing earlier than usual today.

Wednesday opening hours:
9.30am – 3.00pm

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

Croots Country Store
Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
01369 760284
www.crootscountrystore.com

30/12/2025

We’re open today at Croots Country Store and trading as usual right through until 5pm. If you’re planning a visit before the New Year, this is a good day to drop in. We have plenty of bargains to pick up, from dog supplies to outdoor clothing, bird feed, gifts and more.

Call in, browse at your own pace, and see what you can save before the year ends.

Open today until 5pm

Croots Country Store, Holy Loch Marina, Sandbank, PA23 8FE
Phone: 01369 760284
Website: www.crootscountrystore.com