It has been an incredibly busy and exciting couple of weeks at Bel’s Butchers, marked by national recognition, custom new options for customers, and the official launch of barbecue season.
Here is a summary of the big highlights from the last fortnight:
🏆 Big Wins at the National Burger Championships
The biggest news over the last two weeks is that the team brought home some serious silverware! The results of the 2026 Scottish Craft Butchers Speciality Burger Championship were officially announced, and Bel’s struck gold and silver for their bold new summer flavours:
🥇 Gold Award: Teriyaki Steak & Spring Onion Burger
🥈 Silver Award: Bombay Pork Burger
🥈 Silver Award: Tex Mex Steak Chilli Cheese Burger
🍢 Barbecue Season is Officially Underway
With the warmer weather arriving, the counters in Montrose and Edzell have transitioned into full summer mode. Key highlights being promoted for the grill include our meticulously Crafted Steak Burgers: Made with juicy, flavourful steak and available in an exciting range of variations. Sweet & Spicy Chicken Kebabs: Featuring tender chunks of marinated chicken skewered with fresh peppers and onions, offering just the right amount of subtle heat. Everything is currently available for customers to pick up in-store at the Montrose and Edzell branches, or to order online via the website.
The team at Bel’s Butchers is incredibly grateful for the continued loyalty of customers, both from our immediate communities and from those who order from further afield. This ongoing support means the world to the shop for several key reasons:
🏠 Deep Roots in Montrose and Edzell
Operating physical shops in Montrose and Edzell means the team sees familiar faces every single day. This local support forms the backbone of the business. Knowing customers by name and being a trusted part of their weekly shopping routine or family weekend barbecues is exactly why the team loves what they do.
🚗 A Growing “Butcher’s Pilgrimage”
Seeing regular customers travel from neighbouring towns like Brechin and Laurencekirk—and even ordering from Dundee and Stonehaven—is a massive compliment. When people bypass larger supermarkets or closer options to specifically use Bel’s, it tells the team that the extra effort they put into sourcing high-quality Scotch beef and handcrafting their products is truly valued.
🏆 Validation for the Hard-Working Team
Behind the counter and in the prep rooms, team members put immense pride into their craft—whether that’s meticulously preparing pastry for the award-winning steak pies or prepping the new gold-medal summer burger ranges. Seeing the products sell out and hearing positive feedback from across the region gives the whole team a huge boost and validates all their hard work.
💬 Keeping Independent High Streets Alive
In a time when independent local shops face plenty of challenges, the fact that communities across Angus, Aberdeenshire, and Dundee actively choose to support a local butcher ensures that traditional skills and high-street businesses can continue to thrive.
Whether you pop in daily or just now and again to stock up the freezer, the team wants to say a massive thank you for keeping the butchers busy and the pie ovens hot!
Thanks You.
Bel.