A Cumbrian business has been shortlisted for two awards in The Butcher's Shop of the Year awards.

Roast Mutton, in Kendal, has been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories in the National Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards 2023.

The shop is owned and run by Robert Unwin and specialises in sourcing and supplying the finest quality locally reared, slow grown, grass-fed heritage meats.

It has been shortlisted in both the North of England Butcher's Shop of the Year and the Sustainability Initiative categories.

The Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards are the only UK awards dedicated to recognising independent butchers across the UK and are designed to reward these vibrant, progressive, locally based businesses.

Each year the 13 award categories champion best practice in the local meat chain from producer and processor to retailer. The award categories cover six regions covering the whole UK as well as specialist categories; including Butcher's Display of the Year, New Butchery Business of the Year, Specialist Butcher's Shop of the Year and Trainee of the Year amongst others.

They reward excellence and recognise professional and creative development that is driving the UK’s butchery sector forward.

The awards play a part in helping to raise standards throughout the local supply chain, and encourage relationship building across the industry.

Now Robert and the other finalists have to wait until May 22 to find out who the top butchers in each of the categories will be, when the winners are announced at the Bierkeller in Birmingham.

Robert said: "It’s been a rollercoaster journey since we opened the shop, but throughout we’ve taken real pride in sourcing and supplying the best quality locally reared meat available and supporting local farmers in the process. Being shortlisted in two categories in Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards is amazing, and shows that we are on the right track.’’