Lord Mayor re-opens Iconic Chester Butcher #Blog

Stephen Wundke
15th April 2019

Ernest Edge and Sons – Butchers, of Handbridge Chester re-opened their doors in style to show off their newly re-appointed shop.

Bruce Edge, proprietor and the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Alex Black, cut the ribbon in front of regular customers and Ward Councillor, Neil Sullivan on Saturday morning, which marked the third time in the shops illustrious career that owners have re-modelled their iconic business.

Opened in 1937 by Bruce’s Grandfather, at one time the 3 generations of butcher all worked in the same business, now that’s a rarity in today’s world. These days it is Just Bruce who runs the Butchers and things in Handbridge have never looked better. Bruce said to the gathered crowd that he was delighted with the refit, “I had always wanted a hard wood shop front and to bring that and our new floor to the business has been a real thrill. Our previous pinnacle was being awarded North of England Butcher shop of the year in 2015 but this puts the finishing touches to making us the best we can be. We have always prided ourselves on the quality of our meat and poultry, the aging process that we implement for our beef and our customer service and now we have the shop that I always wanted.”

Once the ribbon was cut guests enjoyed some bubbly and snacks and Bruce explained the mural on the wall that captured the scene back in 1937. The family history is important to the business, as are the business values installed by Bruce’s Grandfather and Father. Bruce explained that on opening the business in 1937 his Grandfather was called away to fight in the second world war and didn’t return until the war was over, leaving his Grandmother with Bruce’s father, just 6 months old, to run a business she had never worked in.  Bruce said, “It’s just what people did to get on and make the best of it in tough times, she was a remarkable lady”.

Things look a lot rosier now in Handbridge, the butcher shop is one of the finest in the UK, as awards show. Not only do they stock the best available meat and poultry from local producers but they also now bake pies and sausage rolls on site, do a range of fresh ready meals and carry a large number of deli items all of which come with a great taste guarantee from a family who know a thing or two about food and drink.