Port of Lancaster Smokehouse

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse

The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse business started 38 years ago when John Price gave up his career as an art teacher, initially wanted to start a trout farm, but then decided that he could build on his then 'hobby' of  smoking fish in his garage in Glasson Dock to start a business. The original location was St. George's Quay at Lancaster where he began by smoking salmon and trout and selling fairly locally to restaurants and hotels and when the business grew he acquired premises back at Glasson Dock.  From then on the business developed and in recent years John's son Michael has joined the company. The smoking process has been extended over the years to include all types of fish, cheese, meat, game and poultry. Retail outlets now include specialist fine food retailers and supermarkets, plus sales through food shows, farmers' markets, an on-site shop at Glasson and the Port of Lancaster website www.polsco.co.uk.  The company also contract smokes for other companies including private fisherman. The key to the quality is the natural smoking process and blend of wood used which creates the unique flavour.

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse  is constantly developing and adding to the product range and emphasis is always placed on the production of the highest quality food. Most of the smoked produce is sourced locally  - fish from the River Lune in Lancaster and Fleetwood, potted shrimps from Morecambe Bay and cheese from Mrs Kirkham's at Goosnargh, Caron Lodge at Inglewhite and Leagram's at Chipping. Earlier in the year a corporate gift collection was launched ranging from hampers of speciality cheeses and selections of smoked fish to luxury hampers including smoked salmon, lobster pate and high quality wines.

The media interest in food over the last few years has significantly contributed to the way in which the company has been able to expand and give profile to fine food. Many restaurants are starting to adopt a ' buy and offer local produce policy' and this has helped to open up the market.

The key to the success has been to steadily grow the range, though certain products have been singled out for special mention and awards. Earlier this year the business was the overall winner of the hotly contested 2007 North West Fine Food Producer of the Year Award with our naturally smoked kipper fillets.