Sherburn in Elmet family butchers to change hands after 130 years

2025-01-22 04:45:00

Abstract: Jackson's, a 130-year-old family butcher in North Yorkshire, is ending family operations due to the owner's retirement. It will continue under new ownership.

A butcher shop with over 130 years of history, located in North Yorkshire, is about to end its family-run operations. The butcher shop, named Jackson's, was founded in 1893 by brothers George and Percy Jackson, and has since been passed down through five generations of the family.

Wayne Jackson, 60, has made the difficult decision to sell the butcher shop because his children have chosen different career paths. He will hand over the business to new owners outside the family on Tuesday. Mr. Jackson stated, "Everything has its end."

Mr. Jackson continued, "I work six days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day, so it's time to give myself some time." Jackson's butcher shop will continue to operate under new ownership. He has helped out at the Low Street butcher shop since he was a child and has spent his entire career there, witnessing significant changes in the high street.

Mr. Jackson said, "Young people today have different shopping and eating habits than the older generation." He added, "In the past, the same people would come in every day. Wives used to come to buy groceries to cook for their children and husbands, but now both partners work, and their cooking habits have also changed."

Mr. Jackson will now leave the meat industry and take on a part-time job cleaning windows and gutters. He said, "It's a bit sad, but also exciting." Regular customer Alex Askew stated that Mr. Jackson is "part of the Sherburn DNA."

Ms. Askew said, "It will be a real loss without him, everything will be different, it won't be the same again. People come and go, but this person means a lot to this community." She also added, "We need to take care of these small high streets, take care of our local people, otherwise big companies will take over everything and the high street will be destroyed."