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Swaledale Butchers butcher to the left of the picture holding piece of meat with large carcasses hanging from hooks in the background

Swaledale Butchers

Industry
Food & Drink
Butchery
Location
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Website
www.swaledale.co.uk
Est
2009

Swaledale Butchers was founded by Jorge Thomas, it works with a network of 30 small, family-run farms and smallholdings across the Yorkshire Dales.

Swaledale Butchers two smiling men standing in front of green metal doors
Swaledale Butchers butchered carcasses hanging from hooks in refrigerated lorry man also in lorry

The Business

Swaledale Butchers started with Jorge travelling around with a refrigerated van, working directly with the farmers in Yorkshire to source heritage breed meat and supplying a network of chefs in London who cared about the provenance of the meat they were cooking with. In need of a scale to weigh the produce, Jorge applied to The Prince's Trust for assistance and was awarded a grant to help grow his business. Jorge was soon joined by his brother-in-law Charlie Cowling and together they have expanded the business - becoming known for their heritage breeds and whole carcass, nose-to-tail butchery, expertly prepared by their team of seam butchers who make use of every single cut.

Factory Visit

"Butchers start their day before the crack of dawn, so it was an early start during an exceptionally cold winter snap, scraping ice off the car before I could set off. The staff were extremely welcoming and didn't seem to mind me being a 'fly on the wall' in their bustling headquarters in Skipton. Huge carcasses were lifted off the lorry and handled deftly, a well rehearsed human chain to get them all inside quickly. I was impressed with their nose-to-tail approach and all cuts seemed to be used for something, with very little waste. They bundled me off with a huge bag of pork chops that were delicious and testament to high welfare of the animals that Swaledale insist on." Carmel King Photographed Swaledale Butchers for Choco Marketing in November 2025.

Swaledale Butchers room full of hanging carcasses from hooks
Swaledale Butchers butchers working at table in white clothing and aprons cutting meat with knives
Swaledale Butchers metal shelves full of butchered meat
Swaledale Butchers butcher in white clothing apron and blue mask in refrigerated room surrounded by meat carcasses hanging from hooks
Swaledale Butchers man holding large cut of meat beef with other meat on metal shelves in background
Swaledale Butchers butcher on left of picture in apron and white hat blue mask shelves of cuts of meat
Swaledale Butchers butchers working at table butchering cutting meat with knives
Swaledale Butchers table with animal legs butchered pigs trotters
Swaledale Butchers butchers working at table in white coat and aprons and masks cuts of meat on table in front of them
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white unloading large animal carcasses from refrigerated lorry
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white unloading large animal carcasses from refrigerated lorry
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white with large pig carcass over his shoulder he is wearing a blue protective mask
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white unloading large animal carcasses from refrigerated lorry
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white unloading large animal carcasses from refrigerated lorry
Swaledale Butchers man wearing all white looking a row of large animal carcasses hanging from ceiling
Swaledale Butchers man in gloves holding pigs head he is wearing apron and white coat
Swaledale Butchers large cuts of meat on table in front of butcher
Swaledale Butchers butchering large cut of red meat at table with large knife protective glove
Swaledale Butchers man butchering cut of meat with large animal carcass hanging behind him
Swaledale Butchers working at table
Swaledale Butchers working at table
Swaledale Butchers butcher holding large animal carcass hanging from ceiling
Swaledale Butchers working making filling sausages he is wearing white clothing and green apron
Swaledale Butchers metal protective glove hanging from hook
No items found.
"People often comment that our meat tastes old-fashioned or like it used to when they were growing up, and we consider this a huge compliment. A generation ago in Britain we farmed traditional livestock perfectly adapted to our climate and terrain. Traditional breeds are slower to mature and favour a grass and hay based diet. Take the Belted Galloway or Highland cow, for example - capable of grazing on the fells all winter with no problem and producing stunning, highly-marbled beef."
Jorge Thomas, Owner
Swaledale Butchers butcher in green striped apron making filling sausages at stainless steel table
Swaledale Butchers man in white clothing and blue mask carrying pig carcass over his shoulder

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