**Welsh Butcher Crowned Best in UK at Prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards**
A traditional family butcher in Monmouthshire has been named the best in Britain, bringing national fame to the village of Raglan. NS James Butchers, first established in 1959, was honoured as the Outstanding Butcher across both Wales and the UK at this year’s Countryside Alliance Awards—often affectionately known as the “Rural Oscars”.
The accolade marks a significant achievement, not only for the business itself but also for rural enterprises throughout Wales. Held annually for nearly two decades, the Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate the breadth of rural life by recognising achievements in categories ranging from food and drink, to retail, pubs, and rural enterprise.
This year, Welsh businesses made an emphatic mark, collecting two of the awards’ most coveted titles. Alongside NS James Butchers’ triumph, Pembrokeshire-based Coterie Leather was named the UK’s Best Rural Enterprise, adding another feather to the cap for Welsh rural industry and innovation.
At the heart of NS James Butchers’ recognition is their unwavering commitment to sustainable agriculture and community welfare. The Countryside Alliance heaped praise on the business, describing it as a “true champion of farming,” with its devotion to low food mileage and sourcing livestock locally. The judges highlighted the presence of an in-house abattoir and the meticulous, hand-crafted approach to their products—a rarity in the present-day food sector.
But what truly set NS James apart was their continued role in supporting the Monmouthshire community, both as providers of essential local produce and through active involvement at rural events. According to the Countryside Alliance, the business “is the beating heart of a thriving rural network, proudly flying the flag for farming and food heritage.” Such glowing endorsement suggests a model for others blending heritage with modern values.
This community spirit wasn’t limited to the wise butchers of Raglan. Coterie Leather, also from Wales, was lauded for setting “a benchmark for rural businesses nationwide” through its fusion of sustainability, craftsmanship, and local engagement. The founder, Tracy Watkins, earned praise for nurturing both environmental stewardship and the preservation of traditional skills, while innovating within the world of ethical fashion.
These successes highlight a broader trend: rural businesses throughout Wales and the United Kingdom continue to adapt and flourish in the face of modern challenges. Speaking at the event, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, spoke passionately about the importance of such businesses. “These stories of perseverance, ingenuity, and community spirit deserve to be heard,” he remarked, before describing the winners as “standard bearers for the countryside and the communities that depend on it.”
Bonner also reminded attendees that the awards are not just about business success, but about upholding values integral to rural life—commitment to community, passion for local produce, innovation, sustainability, and the age-old ethic of hard work. Recognition from such a platform will likely inspire others in rural communities to follow in the footsteps of this year’s winners.
It is without doubt that NS James Butchers embodies much more than just a commercial venture. For Raglan and its surrounding areas, the shop is a symbol of resilience, tradition, and community support—values that the Countryside Alliance believes are paramount for the future of Britain’s rural economy.
Across the countryside, such recognition serves as a reminder of the vital role local independent businesses play—not merely by providing goods, but by nurturing the social and economic fabric of their communities. With annual accolades like these shining a light on their contributions, enduring institutions like NS James Butchers continue to be held up as examples for others to follow.