Butcher changes 20-year job due to 'massive costs'

Jim Sutcliffe previously ran Meridian Meats in Louth High Street until it closed in 2020

A Lincolnshire butcher of over 20 years has hung up his apron for the final time - and turned his hand to window restoration.

Jim Sutcliffe, 38, said he was forced to close his business, Mansion Farm Shop, near Louth, due to "massive cost pressures".

Already known by the nickname of Sash Man, Mr Sutcliffe is now delving into a career repairing and restoring sash windows.

Mansion Farm Shop finished trading on 26 April.

Jim Sutcliffe ran Mansion Farm Shop in Tetford with his wife Odile Sutcliffe from 2020 until 2024

Mr Sutcliffe, who grew up on the Tetford farm, owned and ran the Mansion Farm Shop with his wife Odile.

They previously ran Meridian Meats butchers in Louth High Street.

Cost increases the couple faced included a 20% rise in insurance a year and electricity bills that "more than doubled".

Despite trying to "weather the storm", they said the 100% rise of a new electricity contract put them in an "impossible position" to go on.

"It was frustrating and sad and at times scary. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into creating that business," he said.

Expanding to online deliveries during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mansion Farm Shop sold meat, cheese, vegetables and fish.

'Buzzing for future'

Keen to take on something different, Mr Sutcliffe has taken his hobby of sash window repair and restoration and turned it into a business.

It came after he "fell in love" with repairing the windows on his own house.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "What's down the road for the future is really exciting and we're buzzing to get started.

"When one door closes, another window opens."

Mr and Mrs Sutcliffe have won several awards, including BBC Young Butcher of the Year in 2009 and were Highly Commended in the Lincolnshire Pride 2022 Good Food Awards.

A statement on the Mansion Farm Shop website reads: "Thank you for visiting, unfortunately the Mansion Farm Shop is now permanently closed.

"We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful customers for their support and custom over the years."