A Hampstead butcher has ended years of speculation by revealing plans to open a sister shop in neighbouring West Hampstead – billing his new butcher’s as the “missing link” in the high street.

Philip Matthews, owner of Hampstead Butcher & Providore in Rosslyn Hill, announced he would be opening another butcher’s next month at the site of the grocer’s next to Wet Fish Cafe in West End Lane.

The 51-year-old, who lives in New End, Hampstead, said the area “ticked all the boxes” for his new shop.

It comes after the recent opening of a weekday evening food market, adding to West Hampstead’s well established Sunday farmer’s market.

Mr Matthews told the Ham&High: “West Hampstead fulfils all the criteria we set for our new shop.

“It’s one of the up and coming London villages – you can see that just looking at the property prices – and there’s a thriving high street culture with independent businesses supported and championed.

“We’ve done a lot of research, talking to independent businesses in the area and listening to residents.

“People from West Hampstead visiting our shop in Hampstead made a lot of noise over wanting an independent butcher’s in their area. So for us, the demographic is right.”

The move comes after Mr Matthews swapped his small empire of cocktail bars, clubs and restaurants in Covent Garden for his current butcher’s in Hampstead in 2010.

The shop now attracts some of the area’s best-known faces, including comedian Ricky Gervais and actresses Helena Bonham Carter and Emma Thompson.

In keeping with the idea of the “butcher’s plus” he has created in Hampstead – “where you can buy everything for your meal in one shop” – the store in West Hampstead will also offer more than just meat.

“We’ll have fresh beautiful terrines, hams, pies, pâtés and oven-ready choices prepared by our butchers for West Hampstead residents to serve direct to their tables at home,” he said.

“We will stock an extensive range of mid-ranged wines to complement the seasonal offering.”

The new shop will be headed by Guy Bossom, former executive head chef at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Neighbouring businesses and local residents have welcomed the arrival of a new independent shop in the high street, following complaints about plans to be open a branch of Foxton’s estate agent on the site of the old post office in West End Lane.