Want some real HereFOODiness for your plate or prezzies? We’ve got everything covered from Herefordshire’s farmshops and artisan producers, who really come into their own with extra special, unique and quality creations at this most wonderful time of the year.
Peter Cook’s Bread, Bishop’s Frome
From award winning breads to pastries to die for, Peter Cook’s Bread will make your Christmas foodie experience even more special this year. Look out for festive favourites like their own speciality stolen, seasonal loaves and rolls, and even new cake ranges. With a menu of delicious delights to choose from, there’s no doubt that everyone will be round to your house for breakfast, dinner and tea this December… a Cruffin is for ANY day right?
Order directly online, have it delivered (min order £20) or collect from his bakery at The Hop Pocket Shopping Village or Worcester City shop. Alternatively look online for where his ranges are stocked in indie outlets across the county.
Myrtle’s Kitchen
No Christmas is complete without an award- winning Myrtle’s Kitchen festive preserves contribution. All are made traditionally by hand in Herefordshire but with a contemporary twist so your taste buds will never be the same again. The aptly named Christmas and Boxing Day chutneys, and a new Medieval Spiced flavour are the perfect festive gift for the foodies in your life but if you’re unsure about which chutney to choose, Myrtle’s Christmas gift box contains four of their best sellers.
Myrtles has also launched a unique range of seasonings perfectly blended to enhance hot and cold dishes.
A you’ll love the brand new cookbook The Foodies Table in collaboration with fellow USA foodie collectively known as Foodies Across The Pond.
Look out for Myrtles products at indie retailers and markets across the county, and you can order online.
The Nest at Little Verzons Farm, Ledbury
Home of the Handmade Scotch Egg Company, The Nest near Ledbury is an emporium of food and drink delights that just cannot be ignored this festive season. Their in-house deli and farmshop includes fresh daily bread from Peter Cook, oils, preserves, seasonal fruit and veg, cold store, frozen and dairy items, speciality goods and much more, all from the local area and its wonderful artisan producers.
The Nest recently brought out their own range of salamis too. Coupled with hand crafted table and kitchenware, this is the perfect place to find something to add a little sparkle to your festive menu or to pick up some fabulous gifts for family or friends. Of course they bring out their seasonal scotch egg range too, perfect for the nibbles tray, party buffet or Boxing Day cold cuts board.
Don’t forget to stop for lunch or a wonderful cake while you’re shopping.
Field Fayre, Ross-on-Wye
This is the place to go for those with food sensitivities this December and all year round. Offering a large range of fantastic organic, gluten and dairy free products including Booja Booja ice cream and chocolates, crackers and crisps and stacks of gluten free bread, you’ll also find brilliant edible gifts for the hard to buy for gourmand.
Why not order your organic festive fruit and veg box to be delivered and your feasting table will be overflowing with healthy loveliness.
The Food Hall, The Hop Pocket Shopping Village, Bishops Frome
The exciting food hall at the Hop Pocket is jammed full of sparkling food and drink gift boxes, speciality ranges, childrens’ Christmas stocking treats and seasonal goodies the likes of which only used to be available in London retailers and or on the continent.
From chocolate to cheese crackers, spirits to teas, local meats to breads and spreads, you’ll find regional producers and well-known brands amongst national names. Of course their famous wine shop is stocked to overflowing making this wonderful independent shopping venue even more of a festive destination than ever.
Oakchurch Farmshop, Staunton-on-Wye
The self-proclaimed ‘Harrods of Herefordshire’ lives up to its name even more so over the festive season. Order your meat joints (locally bred of course), game, turkey and more now from their butchery.
An Oakchurch Hamper is a brilliant gift, in a range of sizes and prices they’re always packed with quality gourmet deliciousness.
Championing local producers the vast food hall is also bursting with Oakchurch’s own quality ranges of prepared fresh and frozen meals and dishes, dairy (their icecreams are amazing) and deli items, cakes and desserts, as well as local beverages and soft drinks. There’s a small fish counter and a beautifully displayed seasonal fruit and veg department.
If Harrods was a farmshop, it would probably look like this!
Choccotastic, Ledbury
The Hohoholiday season really is a joyful time at Choccotastic’s cacao HQ in Ledbury. The shelves (and website) are overflowing with Belgian chocolate trees, bars, lollies, choccie bags, hampers and themed gift sets.
Feeling a bit of a naughty elf? You’ll love Choccotastic’s Adult range of risqué confectionary, with cheeky messages that will certainly be a saucy surprise. Not something to unwrap in front of the grandparents!
But don’t worry you can also personalise your own words for a more affectionate confection. With chocolate sets covering Golf, Tools, Musical Instruments and more, you really can say it in chocolate for Christmas to whomever you wish.
Order online or chat with owner Heather instore for your requirements while having a choccie treat in the lovely tearooms.
Heggies of Hereford, Whitecross Hereford
This high quality family butcher has been purveying the best meat, poultry and game for over 60 years. Based on the edge of Hereford City you’ll find not only an excellent meat counter, where they take pride in its provenance, but also their own hand-produced ready-made pies and dishes from recipes passed down through the generations.
Christmas and New Year dining couldn’t be easier; from your roast joint or bird for the big days, wagyu steak, venison, pigeon for special suppers, cold meat platters, quiches and salads for the nibbly days or party nights (catering sizes available), and delicious hearty pies and pasties for when you come back from your bracing festive walk. Shhh, nobody will know you didn’t make them yourself.
The irresistible aroma of Heggies’ hot takeaway counter will lure you as you make your butchery order – will it be the bumper breakfast baguette, the Boston beef cheese XL roll, the classic pulled pork roll and crackling, the flaky puff sausage roll or the savoury pastie bursting with filling. There are lots more takeaway treats too … somehow having a portion of hot pigs in blankets to pick at in the car makes them extra tasty.
Order online for delivery or collection or swing into the shop if you think you’ll resist the impulse buys.
Black Mountain Roast, Michaelchurch Eskley
You’ve committed to a locally sourced Christmas and did you know you can even buy freshly ground coffee, roasted in Herefordshire at the foot of the Black Mountains with 19 different blends to suit your palate?
From their online coffee shop you can now get your favourite ‘local’ coffee delivered straight for your door from Black Mountain Roast. Monthly or Bi-Weekly coffee subscriptions can be set up for your preferred beans. Whether you have a penchant for medium or dark roast, a preference for raw coffee beans or freshly ground coffee, they stock it all.
There’s even a coffee marmalade to kickstart your day … we’ll toast to that!
Look out for Black Mountain Roast ranges at selected outlets around the county or order online.
Two Farmers, Ross-on-Wye
As ethical crisp producers, their seasonal strapline is Merry Crisp-mas and you can crunch without conscience when you dispose of their fully compostable packets.
From potatoes grown in Ross-on-Wye and crisps produced onsite, the two farmers, Sean Mason and Mark Green, also produce 500g party tubs and sharing packs of their award-winning flavour ranges including Hereford Bullshot and Woodland Mushroom and Garlic.
Look out for them in local foodie outlets and also buy direct online at https://twofarmers.co.uk/
Shopping locally and through independent producers supports the local economy, reduces the carbon footprint and well as providing you with exceptional quality and taste.
Make it a Merry Herefoodmas!