Lishman’s: Winner of the Meat Management Britain’s Best Butchers Shop Award 2025
Lishman's of Ilkley, four years on
Last September, Lishman's of Ilkley was named Meat Management's ‘Britain's Best Butchers Shop 2025’ after a major refurbishment in 2022, transforming it into a welcoming space that brings customers closer to the craft of butchery. Supafrank helped to embed Lishman’s values of provenance, welfare and taste into every aspect of the brand, signage and interior design.
Four years on and the shop “continues to be a destination for food lovers seeking quality and authenticity.” Source: Meat Management
Before, the shop was dark, burgundy walls, burgundy ceiling, fifteen years since it was last touched. One long counter ran the length of it, so customers got asked what they wanted before they'd had chance to look. Staff served with their backs to the room. At Christmas it took barely any bodies to fill the place and start a queue out the door.
Emma Lishman had one fear going in to the refit: spending a lot of money and then wishing she hadn't.
The interior was led by the brand. Supafrank started the process by sitting down with Emma and her dad David Lishman to fully understand the values, purpose and personality of the company so the space could epitomise everything they stand for. Every material, colour and texture was carefully chosen to reflect elements of the company and the signage was designed to tell charming stories and integrate seamlessly.
The butchers block faces the customer now – creating a space for connection and a little showmanship. A reclaimed table sits in the middle to browse seasonal promotions and features. There's a hatch in the window that dog walkers have quietly adopted, branded blinds that stop children in the street, and by the back door, four generations of history — including photographs from Emma's great-grandad's farm.
That first Christmas, takings across the three busiest days of the year were up 21%. Those three days are 12% of annual turnover. It's held ever since.
Four years on, Emma says there isn't a single thing she'd do differently.