A FAMILY-RUN butcher’s shop in Chester has been named the best in the region and one of the best in the country in a national competition.

Ernest W Edge and Son in Handbridge represented the North of England last week in the final of the Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards, coming equal second among five other regional winners.

The premier event, held last Thursday, recognises excellence in craft butchery and rewards the top butcher’s shops across six regions before declaring one as the overall UK Butcher’s Shop of the Year.

Bruce Edge, owner of Ernest W Edge and Son, paid tribute to his father and grandfather who grafted hard to make the family business the success it has become over the years.

He said: “I would like to dedicate this award to my father, John Edge, who died in February. Like my grandfather, he put 50 years of his life into our Handbridge shop.

“I am the third generation of my family to run this shop and I think this has to be the most prestigious award of many in our history since 1937.”

The other regions competing were Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, south of England and the midlands.

Mr Edge added: “I am very proud to win such a prestigious award with my wonderful team. 

“It has been the first time we have entered this competition and the judges made particular comment to the standard of our shop.”