Garside Butchers moves into new premises with support from The Cumberland
Garside Butchers has begun a new chapter in its rich history as it officially opened the doors of its new premises to the public with support from The Cumberland.
Run by Hayley Garside and Seb Butlin, the butchers relocated a short distance down the road to its new location on Ghyllbank, North Road, with the move marking the first time the family run business has owned its own property.
A staple of the community since Hayley’s father, Fred Garside, founded it in 1984, Garside Butchers has ensured plates are well stocked all year round with high-quality produce for more than four decades.
The new property caters to growing demand following a busy Christmas period. The shop has more space to serve customers as well as a bigger area for the efficient production of produce for local organisations, such as large quantities of sausage supplied to local hotels, cafes, and B&Bs.
It is now fully operational and ready to meet consumers’ needs during the fast-approaching Easter holidays and the upcoming tourist season.
From dry aged beef and lamb products, sausages, pork chops, sausage rolls, and pies, the business has a range of produce available for customers.
While they had always rented their business space, Hayley and Seb knew that purchasing their own property was the right step forward for the business, especially as the location allowed them the security of staying within Ambleside.
The move marks an exciting new venture for the butchers which works directly with Cumbrian farmers to keep the supply chain fair, transparent and sustainable.
It was a move supported by a strong relationship between Garside Butchers and The Cumberland which goes back years, with the couple managing everything from their business banking to their children’s accounts at the building society.
Hayley said: “Moving into our new home feels like the start of an exciting new chapter. With bigger premises we can grow the business alongside production and it means we can further contribute to the local community. We are now actively seeking to employ more staff and for anyone interested we’d encourage them to contact us at the shop.
“The support from The Cumberland has been so important in helping us take this step and they really understood what the business means to our family and to the community.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone through our doors and show them our fantastic new premises.”
Seb Butlin added: "We’re passionate about doing things the right way, whether it’s supporting Cumbrian farmers, reducing waste as much as possible, or ensuring we positively impact our local community.”
While Garside Butchers holds a longstanding history of serving as a cornerstone of the local community, Hayley and Seb always held the goal of owning their own premises to add further security to the business.
The purchase saw the conversion of a 18th century house into the butchers it is today, adding another independent shop to Ambleside’s high street.
Seb added: “The renovations were done very quickly and a huge thanks goes to local architect William Sutherland and Cook and Lakin building contractors for running the project. Ambleside Roofing Ltd and Lakin Electrical did a fantastic job to rewire the property and lighting to allow the shop to keep its original character and charm also.”
The Cumberland supported Hayley and Seb throughout the purchasing process, with its dedicated Commercial Relationship Manager, Georgie McRoberts, on hand to help them navigate any challenges and guide them every step of the way.
Georgie said: “When you think of the Ambleside community, Garside Butchers is one of the first things which comes to mind. They truly are a core part of the local area’s foundations.
“Whether it is sourcing meat responsibly, supporting local farmers, or ensuring customers have high quality produce on their plates, they go above and beyond to ensure they serve the community and help it flourish.
“We’re delighted to support them in this new venture and help them grow the family business.”
This is a further example of The Cumberland’s support for local businesses following the expansion of its lending criteria to aid organisations across hospitality, food and drink retail, professional services, and healthcare sectors.
Known for its Kinder Banking ethos, The Cumberland puts people at the heart of what it does, developing strong relationships with its customers to help them realise their ambitions.
The Cumberland’s people-first approach means every commercial mortgage customer is supported by a dedicated Relationship Manager, providing tailored guidance and consistent support throughout the lending process and beyond.
Alongside its signature people-first approach, The Cumberland provides services to businesses such as mortgages, current accounts and business savings accounts.
Seb added: "The Cumberland places an emphasis on valuing people, not just numbers, which is why we have had such a strong relationship with them over the years.
“They are always available. Whenever we need to speak with a real person who knows our business and the community we serve inside and out they are ready and more than happy to help.”