A new butcher’s opens its doors in Kendal’s Woolpack Yard.

The new enterprise called Roast Mutton is the realisation of owner Robert Unwin’s ambition to create something truly special in the Cumbrian market town.

Brought up on a north Lancashire smallholding where his family produced all their own meat Robert learnt first-hand at an early age about humane animal husbandry and the joy of a freezer full of delicious meat.

Passionate about locally sourced meat Robert said: "I loved living on the smallholding and would help my dad out with raising our meat.

"I just did it as a hobby back then but I loved the whole think and getting to cook it and eat it was a bonus."

Despite a stint in the world of insurance in central London, Robert always found himself wanting to return to the north. During his time in the City he often found himself being disappointed by the quality of the meat served in many of the restaurants he dined at.

Roberts new butchers prides itself in great, local, traditonal, farmers meat which is a rare finding.

He said: "I deal directly with the farms. I've worked in butchers before were nothing was from the farm, it wasn't the same.

"Customers can tell when it is and they're loving it.

"Support from community is amazing and have all said the quality is superb which is important."

Roast Mutton will supply customers with quality locally reared heritage and rare breed grass fed beef, lamb and mutton, as well as pork, poultry and carefully selected locally sourced game. Robert will also provide a selection of wines to accompany the produce he supplies and will in the fullness of time host tastings and butchery masterclasses at the shop.

In Robert’s view we all need to eat better quality meat from farmers that we know and trust and returning to a time before supermarkets got in the way of the relationship that consumers had with the people who produced their food saying: "‘’We’ve chosen to take an animal for our own nourishment, so absolutely nothing should go to waste. Ultimately the entire process should be about respect for that animal.’’