R J Balson & Son

{{Short description|Butcher in Dorset, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

R J Balson & Son is a high-street butcher in the market town of Bridport, Dorset. According to the Institute for Family Business, it is the oldest continuously trading family business in the United Kingdom. It has been in the Balson family since 1515{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10557978/What-keeps-a-family-butcher-in-business-for-500-years.html | title=What keeps a family butcher in business for 500 years? | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=14 January 2014 | accessdate=15 January 2014 | author=Waters, Florence}} when Robert Balson rented a market stall on Bridport Shambles.

Since 1892 its butcher's shop has been located at 9 West Allington, Bridport,{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-15594926 | title=Dorset butchers is 'oldest family business in UK' | work=BBC News Dorset | date=4 November 2011 | accessdate=28 February 2014}} not far from its original location.{{cite news | url=http://www.rjbalson.co.uk/rjb/history.php | title=History | work=R J Balson & Son | accessdate=15 January 2014}}

It was featured in the BBC Four television programme Hidden Histories: Britain’s Oldest Family Businesses, broadcast on 15 January 2014.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25711108 | title=Business tips from UK's oldest family firms | work=BBC News | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=15 January 2014 | author=Wallis, Lucy}}