Father and daughter, George and Clare Cropper, attended Skipton Auction Mart’s annual high profile lowland prime lambs Christmas show and sale and had to fight off strong competition from other leading retail butchers from both sides of the border to claim the festive title winners shown by Calderdale sheep farmer John Midgley, from Luddendenfoot.

They had to go to a staggering £360 per head to acquire them – well over triple what a single prime lamb would fetch on a normal market day – and the top-quality show victors have now gone on sale at Cropper Family Butchers’ Blackburn Road shop, where they are available for Christmas in all the popular cuts, including festive roasts, chops and lamb shanks. Nothing will go to waste. 

The lambs supplement other prime cuts of beef on the Cropper Family Butchers Christmas menu from Clare and her partner, John Mellin, who raise beef cattle on their farm in Long Preston, where they live with the newest addition to the family, Barney Mellin.

Clare explained: “Once again we’ve made a major investment in our Christmas offering and we’re more than happy to make the outlay, as our customers fully deserve the best meat that money can buy at this special time of the year and after what has been such a difficult year. However, customers should note that while the meat is rather special we’ll still be selling it at our normal shop prices. We like to term it our annual Christmas treat!”

She added: “We aim to source and buy locally wherever and whenever possible as that ensures we can guarantee both the quality and provenance of the meat, as well as helping keep food miles to a minimum.” 

Over the years, Cropper Family Butchers & Deli have bought multiple Skipton Christmas prime lamb champions and prize winners. The renowned Red Rose butcher was established over 60 years ago in Accrington Market by George Cropper, who remains a familiar face behind the shop counter, though the business is now run by his daughter Clare and an experienced butchers brigade.

Last summer, Croppers transferred lock, stock and barrel to its current premises, where it has continued to prove a runaway success and make a major impact as the town’s last remaining truly independent family-run butchers. 

The latest news is that Croppers will be looking to launch a brand-new licensed cafe and bistro in the upstairs premises above the shop. A major refit is currently in progress and the new venture will open once Covid-19 relaxes it grip. “It’s a really exciting project for us. Watch this space!” added Clare.