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Home – R J Balson

THAT WAS THEN ..
RJ Balson deliveries back in 1935
.. AND THIS IS NOW
Britain's oldest family-run butcher shop
.. AND THIS IS NOW
Britain's oldest family-run butcher shop
RJBalson Awards

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IT ALL STARTED OVER 509 YEARS AGO

It began in 1515… ... Just six years into the reign of Henry VIII. The same year Anne of Cleeves, Henry's fourth wife, was born in Cleeves, Germany and Thomas Wolsey, archbishop of York, was made a cardinal. This was the year before the first published account of the discovery of North America appeared and 8 years before the cocoa bean was introduced to Spain... Since then, dozens of family members have passed their butchery skills down through 25 generations, making us Britain's oldest family business.

OPENING HOURS

AWARD WINNING

Local produce made here on the premises by Master Butchers

BRITAINS OLDEST FAMILY BUTCHERS

Established in 1515, we have 25 generations of experience.

LOCAL PRODUCE

Traceable from the farm to fork, our produce is free-range and sourced locally to our shop.

THE BUTCHER'S BLOG

A round up of our news and as well as what we generally get up to here at R J Balson’s.

Bridport Business Awards 2020

Important update

The health of our customer’s and staff is very important to us.  We have decided to continue wearing masks and encourage our customer’s to do the same after the 19th July 2021 Only two customers will be permitted in the shop … Read More

Bridport Business Awards 2020

Another Award for RJ Balson and Son

We are proud to receive the Best Customer Service Award in the Bridport Business Award for 2020.  We where presented the award at Highlands End Holiday Park on Thursday 5th March. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to the … Read More

Service to Sausage Award

Service to Sausage Award – R J Balson & Son
. AHDB presented the award to Richard Balson at the House of Lords, Hard work and dedication to the job and excellent service to our customers.

FREE-RANGE AND LOCAL

Want to know where the meat in your burger came from? How your Sunday Roast was cared for? We provide only great tasting West Dorset and Somerset meat from local farms less than 30 miles from our 500 year old shop in Bridport. We know our meat from farm to fork. As well as free-range meats, we have freshly prepared seasonal game, dry-cured bacon and gammon and a range of top quality sausages all made here on the premises. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, our friendly Butchers are happy to prepare cuts to your exact requirements.

OLD FASHIONED SERVICE

Our current Master Butchers are Richard Balson, Brother-in-Law Rudi Boulay & Adam Gardner. Richard and Rudi were trained by Master Butcher Donald Balson, Richard's father. From 1880, until this day, our shop has been in West Allington, Bridport, not far from its original location and we continue to deal in the highest quality meat, poultry and game, make our own range of speciality foods, and offer an unrivalled, old fashioned service.

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR LOYALITY CARD?

rj balson loyalty card

PICK ONE UP IN OUR SHOP

One Loyalty Card stamp will be rewarded for every £25 spent in one transaction. A full Loyalty Card (six stamps) can be redeemed for a £10 discount off next purchase of goods.

What our customers are saying about us ...

WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE TERCENTENARIAN CLUB

If you have never heard of it, that is no surprise. It has barely a dozen members, no annual fee and it meets just once a year. The members are a rag-tag collection of businessmen, including a wine merchant, a butcher, a hat-maker, a ribbon manufacturer, a builder and a boat-maker. There’s even a candlestick seller.
Bridport Tercentenarian Club
Entry to the club means your business must have survived for more than 300 years and be owned by the same family that started it. The member companies must, by definition, have unparalleled staying power. This means that all would have survived at least 47 recessions, a clutch of banking crises, stock market crashes, the start of the Industrial Revolution, the end of horse power, two World Wars, the defeat of Napolean and the rise of the internet!

OUR MERCHANDISE

We don't just sell meat, game and poultry. To celebrate 500 years of RJ Balson, we have a range of cotton kitchen accessories as well as our book, '500 years in the making'. all can be purchased at our shop or give us a ring on 01308 422638 and we can send anywhere in the UK.

£10

EACH
RJ Balson 500 years book cover

BOOK

"500 years behind the block" by Richard J Balson 

£14.99

EACH

APRON

100% cotton, in black, with R.J. BALSON logo. One Size

£6.00

EACH
RJ Balson tea towel

TEA TOWEL

100% cotton, in white with RJ Balson logo and shop front
BOEREWORS

South Africal recipe, pork and beef sausage ready for the Braai. (BBQ)

MERGUEZ

A highly spiced North African sausage with paprika, chilli & garlic.

TOP QUALITY AWARD-WINNING SAUSAGES

Made with the finest meats and ingredients for generations.

TRADITIONAL PORK

A traditional pork sausage using lean local free range pork, bread, salt, spices and preserve with a hint of honey. Really delicious.

PORK AND MARMITE

A pork sausage with real marmite, an ideal breakfast sausage. Love it or hate it.

PORK AND LEEK

Lean pork, with freshly chopped leeks, providing tasty, colourful sausage from the connoisseur.

TUDOR ROSE (OLD ENGLISH)

Our Heny VIII sausage, a classic favourite for over 500 years containing marjoram and thyme.

WEST COUNTRY

A pork sausage with added mace, ginger and nutmeg to tantalise the taste bud of everyone.

CUMBERLAND

A coarse cut, pork sausage with added sage, presented in a traditional single link, ideal for barbecues.

VENISON

A meaty sausage, made from the finest venison and a delicious blend of herbs.

WILD BOAR

A very lean, low fat gamey sausage, with a delicious flavour packed full of goodness.

BEST BEEF & HORSERADISH

Traditional sausage made with local beef with a hint of merguez and garlic.

PORK CHIPOLATA

A fine thin sausage, specially seasoned to appeal to children's trast. A popular party sausage.

CHICKEN

Free range chicken breast, for poulty lovers, no fat, very tasty, very healthy.

HOT SPANISH

A chorizo style pork sausage, with a fusion of chilli, pepper, cayenne & smokey notes.

GLUTEN FREE

A pork sausage for celiac. Gluten free Lamb & Mint Sausages

PORK AND SWEET CHILLI

Sweet and slightly hot like the staff at Balson's.

DUCK AND ORANGE

Delicious gourmet sausage, packed full of flavour.

TOULOUSE

Typical French cassoulet sausage. Made by our own Frenchman, Rudi.

BOEREWORS

South Africal recipe, pork and beef sausage ready for the Braai.

PORK MARMALADE & GINGER BEER

Made with the finest local free-range pork. Palmers ginger beer & award winning vintage marmalade.

REAL SAUSAGES, MADE WITH REAL MEAT, IN REAL SKINS, BY REAL BUTCHERS

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

Whether you are wanting to order sausages, oxtails or just want to ask a question, we're here to help ....

email: richard@rjbalson.co.uk

tel: 01308 422638