A BAR in York is hoping to “stirrup” some business by offering curious customers the chance to sample horsemeat.

The hand-prepared horsemeat jerky is being served as a bar snack alongside the real ales and continental lagers at Pivni, in Patrick Pool.

Manager Dan Robertson said when he was offered the product from a Welsh supplier, who regularly provides the bar with dried meat goods, he couldn’t resist trying it out.

He said: “I have been getting jerky from a supplier in Wales for about a year now. He gets rare and unusual meats in.

“He managed to obtain some horsemeat and he dried it and marinated it using traditional methods.

“I think people are quite interested in the idea.”

Horsemeat, while legal in Britain, has never featured as part of nation’s traditional diet. While the recent media storm over traces of horse meat found in other meat products has shocked many, it has also seen some curious about a product which is eaten routinely on the Continent.

Jerky, which Pivni will be selling in bags from behind the bar, is a traditional method of curing and was used to preserve meat by those who needed food for a long journey on horseback through the American west or the Australian outback.

The raw meat is cut into thin strips, seasoned or marinated, then allowed to dry out.

Dan said: “Peoples’ interest has been piqued on the back of the horsemeat scandal. People are quite interested in the idea. Horsemeat has been sold and eaten on the continent for years.

“The fact it’s been found in the UK food chain unintentionally isn’t on but it’s supposed to be nutritious and flavoursome and there’s no risk.”