The UK Lions squad for the World Butchers' Challenge in Paris 2025 has been revealed, featuring 19 butchers from around the country.
With industry backing from the newly formed Team GB board, the UK Lions will start training in May in preparation for the World Butchers' Challenge.
The three-day competition, also known as the Butchery Olympics, will feature butchers from 15 countries around the globe in a series of challenges designed to test the skills and experience of the butchery teams.
A Team GB board was formed earlier this year to ensure a British team was represented in the competition. The board consists of representatives from National Craft Butchers (NCB), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), The Dalesman Group, Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB), Dalesbrook, Institute of Meat (IoM), Q Guild and previous team captain Simon Taylor.
Which butchers made the cut?
The Lions squad consists of 19 butchers from across England and Scotland.
From England:
- Lee Ashcroft, The Butchers Blade
- Marcus Broughton Pipkin, Temper Restaurant
- Henry Curd, Paley Farm
- Matt Everest, South Downs Butchers
- Connor Fell, C G Fell & Sons
- Luke Hrachovec, Good Trees Farm
- Patrick Millward, J F Bishops
- Steve Owens, Lidgates Butchers
- Connor Ringrose, Ringrose Butchers
- Mia Tamburrini, Raise the Steaks
- Simon Taylor, Surrey Hills Butchers
- Ben Tindale, G Shearer Butchers
- Elsie Yardley, Great Garnett's
From Scotland:
- Helena Akroyd, Bel's Butchers
- Richard Megahy, Simon Howie
- Ben Megahy, Simon Howie
- James Mitchell, Coopers Butchers
- Kirsty Neil, Scott Brothers
- Ryan Tierney, Kinnaird Butchers
The final six from the 19-strong Lions squad will be unveiled after months of practice, before going forward to compete in the World Butchers' Challenge Arena. Each team will also nominate a member to compete in the World Butchers' Challenge Butcher Apprentice category and the Young Butcher Challenge on 30th and 31st March.
The first gathering of the UK Lions squad will be a training session at Plumpton College in late May with further training sessions planned before the competing team is chosen.
Industry backs Team GB
Team GB board chair Simon Coles of The Dalesman Group said: "The board are all passionate about supporting the industry and wanted to ensure there was a Team GB competing in Paris and promoting our industry. The journey to Paris for our squad is just as important as the competition and I speak for all the board when I say we are delighted to support our industry in this way."
Simon Taylor, previous Team GB captain and current UK Lions squad member, said: "This is a global competition, the likes of which I've never seen before. It genuinely puts our industry on the pedestal it deserves, showcasing the true tradition and skillset of butchery.
"In the story of British field to fork, butchery is often missed out. This competition gives us a spotlight on everything this industry does for our food system."
Gordon King, head of Scottish Craft Butchers and vice chair of the team, commented: "I know most of these butchers personally and we're confident their individual strengths will work cohesively to create a formidable team on the world stage, covering all aspects of the challenge."
Eleanor O'Brien, NCB managing director, said: "The level of skill within our industry is immense, we're proud to support craft butchers every day but especially when we're about to show the world just what British butchers can do!
"It's a huge undertaking to take the team to Paris though, so I think I speak for the whole board when I say that additional industry support for our UK Lions would be welcomed. It's a fantastic opportunity to support the butchery sector."
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
