Bangers & Mash: A Taste of British History with RJ Balson & Son

When we first learned about RJ Balson & Son, the oldest family-run butcher in Britain, we knew their products belonged on our shelves. Being selected as the first British specialty shop and first brick-and-mortar retail location in the United States to carry RJ Balson British-Style Bangers is a genuine honor.

It's partnerships like this that allow us to continue our mission of bringing authentic tastes of Britain and Ireland to our customers while supporting family businesses that have preserved traditional recipes and craftsmanship for generations. For us, these aren't just sausages, they're a piece of living British history.

Few dishes are as comforting, iconic, and unmistakably British as Bangers & Mash. Creamy mashed potatoes, rich onion gravy, and perfectly seasoned sausages come together to create a meal that has warmed family tables across Britain for generations.

But when you make Bangers & Mash with RJ Balson & Son British-Style Bangers, you're not just enjoying a classic recipe, you're tasting a tradition that stretches back more than 500 years.

Available at Mason's British Corner Shop

Mason's is proud to be the first British specialty shop and first brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States to carry RJ Balson British-Style Bangers.

Shop now: https://masonsbritishmarket.com/products/r-j-balson-son-british-style-banger

England's Oldest Family Butcher

The story of RJ Balson & Son begins in 1515, when John Balson first sold meat in the market square of Bridport, Dorset. What started as a simple market stall has grown into one of Britain's most remarkable family businesses, with the craft of butchery being passed down through 26 generations of the same family.

Think about that for a moment.

The Balson family was making sausages before the Pilgrims sailed to America, before Shakespeare wrote his famous plays, and during the reign of King Henry VIII. Through wars, economic hardships, industrial revolutions, and changing food trends, the family continued doing what they do best: producing quality sausages and meats using traditional methods and generations of expertise.

Today, RJ Balson & Son remains recognized as Britain's oldest family-run butcher, proudly carrying forward a legacy that few businesses anywhere in the world can match.

What Makes a Proper British Banger?

The word "banger" is beloved throughout Britain, but not all sausages are created equal.

Traditional British bangers are known for their coarse texture, balanced seasoning, and satisfying bite. Unlike heavily spiced sausages that rely on overpowering flavors, a proper British banger lets the quality of the pork shine through. The seasoning complements the meat rather than competing with it.

RJ Balson's British-Style Bangers are inspired by centuries of family recipes and traditional British sausage-making techniques. The result is a sausage that delivers the authentic taste many Brits grew up enjoying at breakfast tables, pub lunches, football matches, and family dinners.

Whether served as part of a Full English Breakfast, tucked into a sausage sandwich, or covered in rich onion gravy atop a mountain of mashed potatoes, these bangers represent everything that makes British comfort food so special.

Bringing British Tradition to America

For British expats, authentic bangers can be surprisingly difficult to find in the United States. For Americans who have traveled throughout the UK, recreating the flavors they enjoyed abroad can be equally challenging.

That's why we're so excited to offer RJ Balson British-Style Bangers at Mason's British Corner Shop.

By bringing these sausages to America, we're helping preserve a culinary tradition that has been enjoyed for centuries. It's a chance for customers to experience a true taste of Britain from a company that has been perfecting its craft since 1515.

For us, that's exactly what our shop is all about—connecting people with authentic products, real stories, and the traditions that make British and Irish food culture so unique.

Shop RJ Balson British-Style Bangers

Ready to experience the taste of Britain's oldest family butcher for yourself?

As the first British specialty shop and first brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States to carry RJ Balson British-Style Bangers, we're proud to offer these authentic British sausages directly to our customers.

Whether you're a British expat looking for a taste of home or a food lover eager to recreate a proper British pub classic, these bangers deliver the authentic flavor, texture, and quality that have made the Balson name famous for over 500 years.

Order your RJ Balson British-Style Bangers today:

https://masonsbritishmarket.com/products/r-j-balson-son-british-style-banger

They're perfect for:

• Traditional Bangers & Mash
• Full English Breakfasts
• Sausage Sandwiches
• Toad in the Hole
• Sausage Rolls
• Any meal that calls for an authentic British sausage

With limited distribution in the United States, we're honored to help bring this remarkable piece of British food history to American tables.

Classic Bangers & Mash Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the Bangers

• 1 pack RJ Balson British-Style Bangers

For the Mash

• 2½ lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• ¾ cup whole milk
• 4 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Onion Gravy

• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 3 cups beef broth
• 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Onion Gravy

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and sugar, then continue cooking until deeply caramelized.

Pour in the red wine and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Mix the cornstarch with a small amount of cold broth, then whisk it into the gravy. Stir in the Dijon mustard and cook until thickened.

2. Make the Mash

Place the potatoes in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes.

Drain well and return to the pot. Warm the milk and butter together, then gradually mash into the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Cook the Bangers

Heat a little oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages and cook for approximately 12 minutes, turning regularly until evenly browned and cooked through.

4. Serve

Spoon a generous helping of mash onto each plate. Top with two British-style bangers and ladle over plenty of rich onion gravy. Serve alongside garden peas for the classic pub-style experience.

More Than a Meal

Some recipes endure because they're trendy. Others endure because they're timeless.

Bangers & Mash has remained a British favorite for generations because it combines simple ingredients, hearty flavors, and comforting tradition. When those bangers come from a family that has been perfecting the craft since 1515, every bite tells a story more than five centuries in the making.

At Mason's British Corner Shop, we're proud to help share that story, one plate of Bangers & Mash at a time. Whether you're rediscovering a favorite meal from home or trying a British classic for the very first time, RJ Balson British-Style Bangers deliver an authentic taste of British culinary heritage that's been over 500 years in the making.