The food revolution is gathering momentum across the UK. On the high street and in cafes, pubs and shops, British consumers now more than ever see the value of locally sourced, seasonal produce more than ever. And what tastes better than golden eggs cooked the day they’re laid, jam made with raspberries from the neighbouring allotment or salads plucked straight from the garden?
These little gems are at the forefront of the renaissance – beacons in a sea of turkey twizzlers – who grow their own ingredients and use seasonal and local produce.
Purton House Organics
M4, Junction 16
A cosy cafe and farm shop with piles of books and soft sofas plying organic goods grown right here on the farm, alongside superb coffee.
Askham Hall
M6, Junction 40
With a gorgeous potting shed atmosphere and tables in amongst the orchard, the cafe at Askham Hall serves up hyper-local food, much of it grown in the kitchen garden outside.
Three Hares
M6, Junction 37
The ingredients used at the Three Hares are sourced or foraged locally and transformed into imaginative recipes with the Japanese and German accents of co-owner Nina. The menu is varied: game often features alongside delicacies such as curd cheese, rye bread and homemade doughnuts.
Brockley Stores
M5, Junction 21
‘Grown, not flown’ is the Brockley ethos, which celebrates local food and sells fruit and veg grown in the surrounding Somerset fields along with goodies baked in store (quiches and pies) and rich coffee roasted in neighbouring Bristol.
Woods Cafe
A38, Bodmin Bypass
Organic and locally sourced ingredients crafted into inventive dishes such as leek fritters with herby yoghurt dip or carrot cake with orange cream cheese icing, but better still, served in a beautiful cottage in the heart of Cardinham Woods.
Pitney Farm Cafe
A303, Podimore
A wooden hut ringed with the organic fields of Glebe Farm where Lily serves up wholesome, taste and largely vegetarian food. Grab a bench on the veranda and enjoy a cup of tea with a slice of oven-warm (if you’re lucky) ginger cake.
Shelford Deli
M11, Junction 11
Owners Drew and Nikki founded their kitchen-deli in 1999 on the premise of offering Cambridgeshire delicious food from sustainable, tasty ingredients and people have been flocking to its doors ever since.
Piercebridge Organic Farm
A1, Junction 56
A lovely little cafe and farm shop set on the corner of a traditional farm year in County Durham, Piercebridge serves light bites and pride themselves on knowing there all their ingredients come from. Fresh from the farmhouse kitchen to your table.
Chainbridge Honey Farm
A1, Junction A698
A fabulous honey farm in the wilds of Northumberland with a novel double-decker bus cafe selling meals and snacks using farm produce wherever it tastes good, honey lattes and cakes baked by a lady in the village.
(Main image – Woods Cafe)
