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
Home – R J Balson
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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
- Monday: 07:00 - 13:00
- Tuesday: 07:00 - 15:00
- Wednesday: 07:00 - 15:00
- Thursday: 07:00 - 15:00
- Friday: 07:00 - 15:00
- Saturday: 07:00 - 15:00
- Sunday: CLOSED
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.
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?
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 ...
- Robert C.25 Nov 2020I’m a recent incomer to this part of the world & kept passing this wonderful shop & finally went in today. I wasn’t disappointed-nice welcome-fantastic service & so much choice-inc Toulouse & Merguez sausages as well as some lovely traditional English ones – not just meat too. I could have spent a fortune . I shall be back as I forgot some black pudding & a couple of pies!read moreread less
- Ed L.25 Nov 2020I started buying from RJ Balson & Son at the start of lockdown mainly because they delivered. The quality of the products supplied combined with old fashioned, genuine, personal customer service means I’ll be buying my meats from RJ Balson & Sons permanently. I get a weekly delivery which I can amend or adapt easily via direct email with the owner and family. Their range of sausages in particular are exceptional in both variety and quality. Steaks are excellent and I can reccomend the lamb and bacon too. Allison delivers my order every Friday and is very pleasant, never in a rush and always stopping for a chat. I feel like a valued customer and cannot reccomend RJ Balson & Sons highly enough.read moreread less
- Vivien N.25 Nov 2020My husband and I were staying at the 3 Horseshoes pub in Powerstock, where we had an excellent breakfast with such tasty chipolatas. We enquired about their provenance and hence learnt about Balson’s. We stocked up with a wonderful variety of meat, fresh duck eggs, delicious meat pies, cake, biscuits and more to bring home. Richard even gave us a complimentary cool bag to get our purchases back to London safely. It was a most enjoyable shopping experience: the staff work as a very cheerful and welcoming team and the shop itself is a feast for the eyes…read moreread less
- Kevin M.25 Nov 2020Balson and Son has been a really great find. Cheerful, friendly and a real gem in Bridport. My wife and I have had a variety of meat now and are really impressed. The best sausages we have tasted for years. The calves liver is wonderful and we are pleased to have found a butcher that sells it. The bacon is beautiful and the lamb shanks are very tasty. Looking forward to popping in again soon.read moreread less
WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE TERCENTENARIAN CLUB
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.
£14.99
EACHAPRON
£6.00
EACHTEA TOWEL
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