Our Story

The shop was opened by Mr Harry Schofield just after the 2nd world war and continued to thrive when the shop was taken over by Mr Schofield’s daughter and son in law John and Brenda Fitton, the shop was run alongside Mr Fitton’s flourishing farm and wholesale meat business, due to increasing business Mr and Mrs Fitton employed a manager a High Crompton local man Mr Jack Bamford and assistant Mr John Taylor.

In 1987 a young improver was employed Darrel Lees from Newhey. Over the next 19 years with the support and backing of the Fitton family, Mr Lees started to introduce more variety to the already established traditional values! The increase in business was a great success and eventually led to Mr Lees taking over the ownership in 2006 but still continuing to source all his British beef, lamb and pork from Mr Fitton’s expanding wholesale meat business at Cowlishaw farm Royton (J&B Fitton ltd).

As well as being a retail shop to the public DH Lees & Sons supplies many local restaurants and offers discounts for bulk and freezer orders, traditional cuts of meat have been joined by a variety of new ranges from 7-day family packs to BBQ packs as well as producing their own large pies and rag puddings! After 35 years at the same shop, Mr Lees is assisted by full-time butcher Mr Harry Roberts who has over 40 years experience as a skilled butcher!

Meet The Team

Darrel Lees

Owner

Darrel Lees started butchering at 13 while still at school in Milnrow, Darrel has worked there for 35 years and has owned the business for 15 years, going from apprentice to owner.

Tommy Lees

Butcher

Tommy Lees is the son of the owner Darrel and is one of our highly skilled butchers in all aspects of the trade.

Zena Rodgers

Pie Maker

Zena Rodgers is our in-house homemade pie and rag pudding baker. Used to go to school with Darrel many years ago and after 30 plus years working at Leggetts Caterers on Whitworth Road, Rochdale she is now working at DH Lees & sons