There’s a new butchery and farm shop on the block in Dalton-in-Furness next week.
Roast Mutton Farm Shop will open its doors on Wednesday, June 11.
The new enterprise is the realisation of owner Robert Unwin’s ambition to open a second Cumbrian outlet to complement his flagship Kendal store, which opened in 2021 and quickly won a raft of accolades, including Britain’s Best Butcher in 2023, the Farm Shop & Deli Best Retail Butcher award in 2024 as well as the butchery’s first ever Great Taste Awards in 2024.
He has now acquired a new site at Killerwick Grange, which provides Robert with additional cutting room and storage facility and create a stand-alone retail space, which will sell Roast Mutton’s quality farm to table produce, alongside produce from carefully selected local suppliers including the likes of Lovingly Artisan Bakery, Stonehouse Smokery, Winter Tarn Dairy, and Wild and Fruitful.
As part of the fit-out, Robert has invested significant funds in specialist dry ageing fridges, bespoke sales counter, and butcher’s block and new flooring, supported by a bespoke processing room, which will allow Robert and his team to supply even more quality meats locally.
The new shop will be overseen by Jake Gibson, who joined Roast Mutton in 2021, initially washing pots, before rapidly progressing and joining the business full time from school as an apprentice butcher, to now becoming the resident butcher at Dalton.
Jake has long held an interest in butchery, having reared animals all his life at his grandad’s farm near Kendal.
After five years learning his trade at Roast Mutton Kendal, Jake is now set to run the farm shop in partnership with Robert.
The shop will be officially opened at 6pm by Dalton-in-Furness deputy mayor Bruce Solari, followed by a hog roast serving Roast Mutton prime cuts alongside award-winning beers crafted by Logan Beck Brewery, Millom.
Councillor Solari said: ‘’This is wonderful news for the town of Dalton-in-Furness. It will give me great pleasure to open Roast Mutton’s new venture.
“The town has for quite some time missed having a butcher and fruit and veg outlets, in fact, a lot of comments I receive are from people stating that these outlets are missing from the town, with limited choice available to them unless they travel further afield. This new business will be welcomed with open arms.‘’
