A family-run cheesemakers are to welcome Royalty to officially open their new headquarters after a devastating fire in 2023 left them on the brink.
Butler’s Farmhouse Cheeses saw hundreds of tonnes of cheese destroyed when their Longridge office and packing site caught fire in November 2023 and destroyed the stock in the run up to the crucial Christmas period.
The inferno saw huge plumes of smoke and dozens of fire engines fight to control the blaze on the Shay Lane industrial estate.
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From the embers the fourth-generation cheese firm have built a new ‘cheese campus’ at their Inglewhite based dairy.
During the visit on Monday (9 February), The King will meet three generations of the family along with Butlers’ longest standing employee and Head Cheese Grader, Bill Yates, with 36 years of service, and Head Cheesemaker, Tim Fisher, with 35 years of service.
Local suppliers from James Hall and Co and J Wareing and Son will also share their part in the campus build with The King, representing a number of local Lancashire businesses that were pivotal in bringing Butlers’ campus vision to life.
His Majesty will begin the visit with second-generation owner, 87-year-old Jean Butler, reviewing historical records and hearing stories from Butlers’ nearly century-long cheesemaking history. He will then tour the campus to take in each stage of Butlers’ farmhouse cheesemaking craft, from milk to maturation, grading, cutting and packing.
The King will conclude his tour by unveiling a commemorative plaque in front of a select group of invited guests, including farmers, partners, suppliers, customers and staff who were integral to the post-fire rebuild, alongside the chief executive of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips; the Mayor of Preston, councillor Sue Whittam, accompanied by her Consort, Stephen Whittam; and the MP for Ribble Valley, Maya Ellis.
Fourth-generation owner of Butlers, Matthew Hall, said ahead of the King’s visit: “This is a defining moment in our history. Rather than replacing what we lost in the fire, we have chosen to make a generational investment for the long-term.
“Our campus represents everything we stand for – respect for our craft, belief in the resilience of our people, and a long-term commitment to doing things the right way. To welcome His Majesty The King to officially open it is an incredibly proud moment for our family, team and the wider Lancashire community.”
The build used rubble from the fire site to create connecting paths, and the campus includes a new, state-of-the-art Maturation Shed, uniquely designed to meet the individual needs of Butlers’ hard, blue and soft cheeses.
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