Q Guild members travelled to Glossop in February to explore Mettrick’s newly refurbished shop and abattoir operation, before moving on to a corporate member visit at The Dalesman Group in Bradford.

The day began at Mettrick’s High Street West shop, where John Mettrick guided members through a stunning three-year refurbishment project. Inspired by Peak District heritage and modern retail practice, the shop now blends fresh meat counters, deli and hot food displays, and innovative design features such as dry-stone wall cladding and seasonal local photography. Members also heard how social media, hot food sales and Covid-era changes have driven growth and reshaped customer expectations.

In the afternoon, John’s brother Steven Mettrick gave a full tour of the family abattoir and cutting plant, outlining the slaughter process and his ethos of quiet, welfare-focused handling. Sadly, mounting bureaucracy forced the plant to close after five generations, but John continues to champion small abattoirs as Chair of the Abattoir Sector Group, advising national reports and lobbying government for support.

The visit concluded at The Dalesman Group, recent additions to Q Guild’s corporate membership. Members were treated to an excellent tour of their state-of-the-art facility—“a place for everything, and everything in its place”—before enjoying a tasting session featuring a wide range of glazes and coaters. The day highlighted how tradition, innovation and collaboration continue to strengthen the Guild community.

For more on The Dalesman Group, visit thedalesmangroup.co.uk.