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Comment: Everards evolve their enlightened approach yet further

27th March, 2017

Well done to Everards of Leicestershire for being named Pub Company of the Year 2017 (20-199 pubs). The independent family-run company received their award at the Publican Awards on March 14 in London. We know Everards well here at Great Food Club. They are big supporters of local food and drink businesses, including this website […]

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How Rutland’s Vivia Crump feeds London every weekend

27th March, 2017

Rutland’s Vivia Crump is well known for her delicious chutneys, which she sells from her stall on London’s South Bank (more about that here). We recently talked to Vivia about the other side of her business, because the two complement each other very well. From her small kitchen on Rutland Enterprise Park near Oakham, she also bakes […]

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Q&A with wine expert Phil Crozier

25th March, 2017

Gaucho wine director Phil Crozier shares his knowledge of Argentinian vino…

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Southwell’s Hearty Goodfellow: the pub with soul (and now sole, too)

18th March, 2017

When we recently called into The Hearty Goodfellow in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, business owner and landlady Lisa White was busy gutting a trout. This gives a good snapshot as to where this well-loved pub is right now, for it has recently launched a takeaway fish and chip restaurant called The Hearty Sole. The pub’s new chippy […]

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The Hercules Revived in Sutton Cheney hits the spot

17th March, 2017

The Hercules Revived (20% off the a la carte menu for GFC members – more here) is an old coaching inn located a stone’s throw from Bosworth Battlefield in north-west Leicestershire. Not so long ago it was just ‘The Hercules’ but then current owner Oliver Warner rejuvenated it and decided a slight name change was in […]

Magazine

The Plough at Shutlanger thriving after Northants Food Awards victory

14th March, 2017

The Plough at Shutlanger near Towcester, Northamptonshire, have enjoyed their best ever start to a year, and they’re putting that success down to their victory in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2016/17. The venue at Shutlanger near Towcester not only took the prestigious title of ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’ – […]

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A chat with Alice and Jo from the Bristol Food Tour…

28th February, 2017

Best friends Alice and Jo are getting to be familiar faces to many of Bristol’s best independents. Since launching their walking tours of Bristol, they’ve grown in popularity and these days you need to book well ahead if you want to explore the city under their guidance. I recently caught up with them to ask […]

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Meet My Mini Pinny – super aprons for kids (and adults)

27th February, 2017

We’re delighted to introduce a fabulous little start-up called My Mini Pinny – classic, handmade aprons for grown-ups and little ones. What’s more, we’ve managed to secure 20% off exclusively for Great Food Club readers. Simply use the promo code ‘greatfoodclub’ when ordering online. We caught up recently with Anna who founded the company from […]

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Hillers Farm Shop wins Midlands title in Countryside Alliance Awards

27th February, 2017

Hillers Farm Shop of Dunnington near Alcester in Warwickshire is Local Food Winner for the Midlands in the Countryside Alliance Awards. Nominated by the public, the awards recognise those who go the extra mile for their community. The regional finalists were announced in December 2016, and in February Hillers discovered that they had been named Joint […]

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Crafty St Martin’s join forces with Everards to create a “country pub in the city centre”

24th February, 2017

The past few years have been an enjoyable journey for Andy Hall and Chris Elliman, and it’s about to get even more exciting. Not so long ago Andy was running the Original Cookware Company in Leicester’s St Martin’s Square, and Chris was living in Balham, south London, working as a chef whilst studying for a […]

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Is this Leicestershire’s most charitable pub?

24th February, 2017

The White Horse at Quorn in Leicestershire continues to do outstanding – and unsung – charitable work in the local community. But it’s not just the pub’s directors, brothers David and Martin Keatley-Lill, who are helping people in need – customers and friends are involved, too. Each Christmas for the past four years, The White […]

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Love old food books? Then you must visit Refried Books

22nd February, 2017

If you are looking for used, vintage and antiquarian books on everything to do with food, cooking, wine, gardening, growing food and flowers, then look no further than Refried Books. The website’s owner and creator Rita, who lives in Sussex with her partner Terry, has a real passion for old books born out of her […]

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“We started out roasting beans in our garage” – the rise and rise of 200 Degrees

22nd February, 2017

Nottingham-based 200 Degrees Coffee Roasters & Coffee Shops need plenty of their own caffeine right now. Sleep isn’t high on their agenda. Instead they’re riding a wave of success that has seen them grow from two blokes roasting coffee beans in a Nottingham garage into a group of five buzzing coffee shops and a roast […]

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Review: The Perch, Binsey, Oxford

21st February, 2017

Gerald Manley Hopkins lamented in 1879 about the loss of the poplar trees in his poem “Binsey Poplars”; I wonder whether he stopped off at The Perch for a repast and to contemplate the loss of his beloved trees? This wonderful 17th century village pub with thatched roof and gardens running down to the Thames […]

Reviews & Blogs

Johnny Pusztai plans to open restaurant next door to his Nottingham butcher’s shop

17th February, 2017

PHOTO: http://livingheritagefoodfestivals.co.uk/ “So, what have you got on today, mum?” “Well, I am going to have breakfast with a Master Butcher and then meet his pigs.” “Cool, see ya.” That was kind of how my day with the award-winning Johnny Pusztai, the Master Butcher of Nottingham’s Mansfield Road, started. You know how sometimes you come across […]

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The best pubs radiate a great ‘feel’, as The White Horse at Banbury proves…

6th February, 2017

What makes you walk into one pub and totally ignore another? In almost every case it’s the feel of the place – that hard-to-define sense of comfort and belonging that washes over you when you’re in a really good boozer, hotel or restaurant. A pub could serve food prepared by Tom Kerridge alongside amazing beer […]

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Das ist gut! Why the new menu at Leicester’s Rutland & Derby’s is turning heads

6th February, 2017

The winter menu at The Rutland & Derby in Leicester city centre is catching eyes all over town. It’s laid-back, unpretentious and Germanic, offering tasty small plates such as German salami, spiced whitebait and pretzels alongside wurst, pizzas (try the ‘flammkuchen’) and mains like chicken schnitzel with lemon aioli and salsa verde. The list of […]

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Review: The William Cecil, Stamford, Lincs

26th January, 2017

The William Cecil offers relaxed and comfortable dining in charming surroundings. The gardens lead into Burghley Park – the pub is part of the estate – and a walk in the beautiful parkland is a great way to round off Sunday lunch. A first course of pea pannacotta with prosciutto crisp, pea purée and ham […]

Reviews & Blogs

Zio Mario artisan bakery opens in Cambridge

25th January, 2017

A new artisan bakery, offering authentic Italian street-style snacks, has launched in Cambridge at The Railyard student accommodation development. Zio Mario is the brainchild of a former corporate executive, Roberto Cavicchia, who left a successful 23-year corporate career to pursue his dream of opening a traditional bakery. The café has taken a ground floor corner […]

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Feeling the force in Yorkshire’s Rhubarb Triangle

18th January, 2017

You may have heard of the ‘rhubarb triangle’ – not a place where rhubarb mysteriously vanishes, but an area in West Yorkshire bordered by Wakefield, Rothwell and Morley, where rhubarb is grown in special darkened, warmed sheds and forced to produce early stems between January and March for UK shops. Lit only by candlelight, the […]

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The year of the taco: Bristol’s award-winning Little Taquero

12th January, 2017

It’s fair to say that 2016 was the year of the taco for Emilio, Bristol’s little orange street-food truck and her owners Kerry and Chris. The Little Taquero can often be seen at street-food markets and private events around Bristol and the South West. And as a business, they’ve gone from strength to strength since […]

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Reflecting on our wartime food and drink

5th January, 2017

By heritage baking specialist, Ria Chambers The new year provides an opportunity to reflect on times gone by. As a specialist in heritage baking I often look back to the past, especially the two world wars. For the past three years there has been a focus on the First World War, and last year I was fortunate […]

Magazine

Review: The White House, Bladon, Oxfordshire

3rd January, 2017

“Give us the tools and we will finish the job,” said Winston Churchill in 1941. In the village of Bladon near Woodstock in Oxfordshire, opposite the grave of Winston Churchill, is The White House. This 16th century building has recently been tastefully refurbished to create a warm, welcoming pub, run by friendly staff. Focusing on […]

Reviews & Blogs

East Anglia’s Fruit Pig Company… makers of the world’s best fresh-blood black pudding?

6th December, 2016

The Fruit Pig Company may be East Anglia based, but word of their award-winning fresh-blood black pudding has spread far and wide. It is now served in Michelin-starred restaurants such as Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Tim Hart’s Hambleton Hall in Rutland, and Tom Aitkens’ Tom’s Kitchen in London. I first met Grant […]

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The small south Lincs chicken producer making a big impact

29th November, 2016

“The ultimate easy-carve chicken” is not wrong. This tagline tells you all you need to know about Crowland-based (near Peterborough) Floppy Chicken. Following a day spent photographing (and tasting), we can vouch for all claims! The Floppy Chicken concept – basically a fresh chicken minus the bones – has been developed by husband and wife team Barbara […]

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Why everyone should try raw milk

28th November, 2016

Just when you think there is nothing much new under the sun, you discover there is. Well, not new exactly, but you get my drift… I grew up in rural Lincolnshire but unlike just about everyone who has contacted me since I announced my conversion, I don’t think I ever drank raw (unpasteurised) milk. I […]

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A day at Manor Farm Cookery School in Branston, Leicestershire

25th November, 2016

As food and cookery programmes continue to spread across TV schedules, it’s possibly no surprise that more and more people want to get a bit of extra hands-on experience. Throw in the likes of students looking to learn how to cater for themselves, active retired types wanting to indulge passions, and businesses looking for enjoyable […]

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Fancy a cookery demo in your kitchen? Speak to Rutland’s Pink Figs

23rd November, 2016

What could be better than an evening of good food shared with good friends? Well, there is one thing… food cooked by the amazing Pink Figs ladies… The Pink Figs are Gilly, Caryl and Liz – three busy mums from Rutland with an absolute passion for food. Their new venture, hosting ‘pop-up’ cookery demonstrations, is […]

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Will this derelict Nottingham building soon be the UK’s most exciting restaurant?

21st November, 2016

More exciting things are happening on the Nottingham restaurant scene. The city has a dynamic and varied food and drink offer, with chains and independents competing for increasingly discerning customers. Amongst all the noise and hustle and bustle, something very exciting indeed is emerging on Nottingham’s Derby Road. Alex Bond has worked in kitchens since he […]

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Member review: Sharmilee, Belgrave Road, Leicester

21st November, 2016

We decided to pop into Sharmilee on Sunday thinking that as it was only 12 noon, we’d be able to get a table easily. Not so! The place was already buzzing with families, a few couples and single people and a large table of lunching ladies. Nargis, the young woman in charge, took pity and […]

Reviews & Blogs

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