A Cumbrian butchery has received a prestigious national prize. In the 2023 Countryside Alliance Awards, Roast Mutton in Kendal was selected Butcher of the Year.
The accolade was presented to owner Robert Unwin and store manager Evonne Sowerby during the House of Lords awards event.
Roast Mutton has previously won the title of North of England.
The awards, now in their 16th year, are driven by public nomination, allowing customers to report why their favourite firms deserve national recognition.
The national butchery title is intended to honour the butcher who is a vital link between locals and the surrounding farms and fields. Commending their concern for animal welfare and the fact that they have helped to put their community on the map by selling high-quality local goods.
Roast Mutton opened its doors less than two years ago, and Robert has strived to promote the region’s greatest quality food in his shop ever since.
”It is a measure of Robert’s accomplishment that he has built up a remarkable audience in a few of months,” remarked the judges. People will very probably be waiting outside his Kendal business on a regular basis. They are inspired by Rob’s enthusiasm as much as by his delicious goods. His pleasure in procuring locally is unrivalled, as is his nose-to-tail commitment to butchery.”
”Robert said. ”I’d want to use this time to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for me. We are overjoyed, yet it hasn’t really hit home yet.
“We all care about what we do, and this acknowledges what we hoped to achieve for our customers.” We care about what we source, how it’s raised, and where we receive our produce from; we go out of our way to get to know every farmer we deal with, many of whom live within a 20-mile radius of the shop.
“Each and every one of them is as enthusiastic as we are about producing high-quality, delicious, and ethically raised produce.” And it’s evident from this award that our consumers care about where their food comes from, which means a lot to everyone involved because it’s why we go to such efforts.”
Roast Mutton
40 Woolpack Yard
Kendal
LA9 8DX
We’re open:
Tues – Sat, 9am-5.30pm
Jon is a regular contributor to several outdoor living and lifestyle news publications, concentrating on The Lake District. Now living in Glenridding, Jon studied journalism at Edinburgh University.
