Gloucester Food Heroes

As a rural county, Gloucestershire has more than its fair share local specialities and rare breeds. Award winning artisan producers, markets and farm shops continue the proud legacies of the past, attracting discerning foodies from around the country. 

We need to talk about cheese

 One of the chief reasons for why Gloucester is on the international food map is its cheeses. Each year, the world-famous Gloucester Cheese Roll attracts daredevils from near and far as they race down the dangerously steep Coopers Hill after a wheel of Double Gloucester. The lesser known, but equally delicious, Single Gloucester has protected status and can only be made in Gloucestershire from milk of the Gloucester cow. The same farmer who revived the Gloucester cattle breed in the 1970s also created the Stinking Bishop. Winning the hard-earned respect of French connoisseurs, its flavour is complex, sweet and nutty, and the smell... well, it’s not called the Stinking Bishop for nothing! 

A rare breed 

The Gloucester Old Spot is the first, and arguably the best known, pedigree pig. Its popularity with chefs and foodies stems from the flesh having a rich marbling of fat which keeps it basted as it cooks (like a pork equivalent of the much sought-after Wagyu beef). Known as the orchard pig, it gets its delicate flavour from grazing on windfallen apples and pears as well whey from cheesemakers. Another local delicacy, but less widely available is the Gloucester Elver. Fishing for these young eels in the River Severn is strictly controlled so if you do spot the elusive elvers on the menu – don’t hesitate to order a plate! If the season is right, you’ll also find wild boar from the nearby Forest of Dean in abundance in Gloucester restaurants and cafes. 

Award winning craft 

At Gloucester Brewery, you can shop or take a tour to find out why they’re serial winners at the SIBA National Independent Beer Awards. Operating out of a small kitchen in Gloucester, The Artisan Kitchen is a cottage industry that has won multiple Great Taste Awards for their enticing preserves. Other local success stories include Hetty’s Kitchen with their delectable, Instaworthy brownies baked in small batches and sold from their cake hatch. Local boy Tubby Tom’s homemade, fiendish chilli and smoky barbecue sauces, rubs and seasonings have taken the BBQ scene by storm, reaching the shelves of Harvey Nichols and other national and international food halls. 

Markets & Farm Shops 

When it comes to shopping for mouth-watering local produce, you’re spoilt for choice. The Gloucester Farmers Market is a Friday fixture where you can buy locally sourced meats, vegetables, cheeses, bread and delicious street food. Gloucester Quays hold their Orchard Street Market on a monthly basis between Spring and Autumn. Look out for their food festival and the Gloucester Quays Victorian Christmas Market (the largest free Christmas market in the South West) too. Just outside the city, you’ll find Over Farm Market and Pound Farm stocking food from their own estates. Gloucester Services on the M5 (between Junctions 11A and 12) is a must-visit and often described as ‘one big farm shop’ and ‘the best services in Britain’.