Trading in the town of Bridport for 510 years, RJ Balson & Son is no stranger to the art of sausage-making.
Established in 1515, RJ Balson & Son has 25 generations of experience and proudly claims the title of Britain’s oldest family butchers.
Master butcher Richard Balson currently heads up the business, and even picked up a ‘Service to Sausage Award’ from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in 2015!
Ever popular is the Tudor Rose sausage, which Richard Balson said is “especially popular” out of the 18 different varieties of sausage produced by the butcher. This hit product is made with an old-fashioned pork recipe containing marjoram and thyme, which was inspired by the rumour that when Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose sank in the Solent by Portsmouth on the 19th of July 1545, it was laden with sausages from RJ Balson!
Another popular choice among customers is RJ Balson’s 12 Pork Sausages for £4.99 offer, with shoppers attracted by the excellent value. For the more adventurous, the shop’s Pork, Ginger Beer and Marmalade Sausages have proved a winner. These sausages are made with local free-range pork, in “real” skins, and served with a smile, Richard said, while noting a “slight movement towards gluten-free sausages”.
Other flavours on offer include Pheasant and Red Wine, Best Beef and Horseradish, Pork and Sweet Chilli and Pork and Marmite, but butcher Richard’s personal favourite is the Traditional Pork Sausage, made using lean local free-range pork, bread, salt, spices and preserve, with a hint of honey.
Asked what he’d put in his dream sausage, Richard commented: “Pork, apple and black pudding… or pork and Marmite – love it or hate it!”
Celebrating 510 years of butchery
To mark its 510th birthday, the historic business has created a new Saxon Sausage, conveniently coinciding with UK Sausage Week!
The traditional sausage is made using pork and is packed with herbs such as basil, marjoram, oregano, sage and thyme, as well as a variety of spices. Butcher Richard Balson described the taste as “delightful”.
Commenting on the long life of the RJ Balson & Son business, Richard said: “Many people have asked how we are still in business 510 years later. I always say treat every customer the same with respect and give them the best service possible!”
Thank you to the official 2025 UKSW partners:
