For over a century, Dales Traditional Butchers has been a staple of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, providing locally sourced, premium meats. With a long history of commitment to quality, Dales has grown into one of the most decorated butchers in the North West, earning titles such as Britain’s Best Butcher and being the first English butchers to win a Scottish award for haggis. Their dedication to top-tier service and craftsmanship has cemented their reputation across the region.

Under the leadership of Mark Duckworth, who is celebrating his 25th year at Dales, the business has flourished. Mark’s experience in the industry, along with his passion for butchery, has led to a number of awards, particularly for their sausages and pies. These award-winning products have become synonymous with Dales' name, with their pies being a standout feature, made from the finest local ingredients and crafted to perfection.

Dales is the first English butchers to win a Scottish award for haggisDales is the first English butchers to win a Scottish award for haggis (Image: Dales Traditional Butchers)

Mark tells us: “We’ve won a great deal of awards over the years, including recently becoming the first English butcher to win a Scottish haggis title. I was in Lapland at the time and received a text saying: ‘We’ve only gone and won it!’, which was a fantastic moment. We’ve been making haggis for about 15 years, adding it into our products such as our pork and haggis sausage which was awarded North West Champion in 2010 by Craig Revel Horwood.

“We’ve also won multiple awards for our pies, including Best Small Pie Producer at the British Pie Awards in 2021 where our pork and black pudding pie was championed. I must say though, my personal favourites are our Scotch Pies and our Scotch and Haggis Pies.”

Another sausage win for Dales (Image: Dales Traditional Butchers) What sets Dales apart is their commitment to quality from the source. All their meats—whether beef, lamb, or pork—are sourced from trusted local farms in Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, ensuring exceptional flavour and tenderness. The butchers uses traditional dry-ageing methods, and their Himalayan salt wall enhances this process, delivering superbly tender and richly flavoured meats, a practice that has become a hallmark of their success.

Dales also embraces modern convenience through their online shop, making their premium meats and award-winning products available for delivery. Customers can enjoy free delivery on local orders over £35 and further afield for orders over £75, ensuring that their exceptional offerings are just a click away. Whether it's for a family roast, a gourmet steak night or a barbecue, Dales provides everything needed to create a memorable meal.

Dales offers a wide selection of produce (Image: Dales Traditional Butchers) In addition to their renowned meats, Dales offers a wide selection of other products, including homemade charcuterie, cheeses, ready meals and fresh vegetables. 

“We’re most well-known for our pies, sausages and our cured meats, but we’ve started to branch out, producing a range of tapas and fine dining meals that people can cook in the comfort of their own homes within 20 minutes,” explains Mark.

Join Dales Butcher's Club for a free hessian bag and a loyalty cardJoin Dales Butcher's Club for a free hessian bag and a loyalty card (Image: Dales Traditional Butchers) Dales has also started a Butchers Club, Mark tells us more: “We’ve recently launched our Butchers club, when you sign up you get a free hessian bag and a loyalty card that allows you to accrue points for money off your shop, whilst entering you into a monthly prize draw for cash prizes of around £100. You also receive regular emails keeping you updated on any offers and news about the shop.” Mark's daughter selects the monthly winners of the prize draw in the shop, alongside mascot 'Mr. Sausage'.

With a heritage of excellence and a commitment to quality, Dales Traditional Butchers continues to be a trusted name in the industry. As members of the Q Guild of Butchers and National Craft Butchers, they maintain the highest standards of service and produce, ensuring their long-standing reputation endures for generations to come.

Emma Grunnil, Mark's Daughter and Mr SausageEmma Grunnil, Mark's Daughter and Mr Sausage (Image: Dales Traditional Butchers) Find out more at www.dalesbutchers.co.uk, or pay them a visit at: Dales Traditional Butchers, 2 Market St, Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth LA6 2AU.