A LONGSTANDING Chester butchers’ shop has reopened after the third makeover in its 80-year history.

Ernest Edge and Son, in Handbridge, held an official relaunch ceremony on Saturday (April 13) complete with bubbly and tasty treats.

Owner Bruce Edge and the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Alex Black, cut the ribbon in front of regular customers and local councillor Neil Sullivan.

Opened in 1937 by Bruce’s Grandfather, at one time three generations of butcher all worked in the same business.

These days it is just Bruce in the driving seat, and he said he was delighted with the shop’s latest refit.

He said: “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 ageing 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 refreshments and Bruce explained the mural on the wall that captured the scene back in 1937.

The family history has always been important to the business, he said, as are the values installed by his 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. This left his grandmother with Bruce’s father, just six 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.”