Local Food
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 With
its own marmalade and sauce, Oxford is almost as well known for its food
as it is its university, and all over the county you can find top restaurants,
delis, gastro pubs and more than its fair share of celebrity chefs.
Last year, Oxford was named as the sixth best city in England for dining
out by The Which? Good Food Guide, with 11 restaurants making it into
the magazine’s Premier League.
Oxfordshire is home to the Children’s Food Festival, the Great British
Cheese Festival and the Henley Food Festival, among others.
 But
we are not just a county of fine dinners — a short drive anywhere
in Oxfordshire will take you past farms, vineyards, allotments, orchards,
dairies, smallholdings and plenty of farm shops where you can buy these
goodies — from organic vegetables and locally-produced wines, to
home-made sausages, pies, cakes, chutney and jams.
Farmers’ markets are making their mark all over the country, and
Oxfordshire is no exception.
Many of the towns have long-standing markets on a weekly basis and other
themed markets are regular events. See your local newspaper for times
and places.
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In Oxford there are two regular markets:
Gloucester Green market (next to the bus station) every wednesday,
9am to 5pm and Gloucester Green farmers' market takes place on the
first and third Thursday of every month, 9am to 3pm.
Other markets include:
 Headington
farmers’ market, fourth friday of every month, at the top end of
Kennett Road, Headington. Abingdon market every Monday, farmers’
market third Monday of the month. Banbury market every Thursday and
Saturday, farmers’ market first Friday of the month. Chipping Norton
market every Wednesday, farmers’ market first Friday of the month.
Didcot Parkway Station market every Sunday, farmers’ market
second Saturday of the month. Finmere market every Sunday. Kidlington
market every Friday and Saturday. Thame market every Tuesday.
Witney market every Thursday and Saturday, farmers’ market third
Wednesday of the month. Woodstock farmers’ market first Saturday
of the month. |
Shop Around
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North Aston Organics
The Bakery Office, North Aston OX25 6HX.
01869 347702, www.northastonorganics.co.uk
Organic vegetable growers. Produce available through box scheme. Also local
deliveries of pasteurised organic milk.
Bread & Co
The Bakery, Tuthill Park, Wardington OX17 1RY.
01295 758489, www.breadandco.co.uk
Low fat, low yeast breads – spelt, sourdough, rye, fruit breads, wholemeal,
granary and white loaves.
Bridge House
72 Wallingford Road, Shillingford OX10 7EU.
01865 858540, www.bridgehouse.org.uk
Smallholder providing free-range eggs, beef, pork, home-baked products and
craft items.
Brightwell Vineyard
Brightwell Vineyard, Rush Court, Shillingford Road, Wallingford OX10 8LJ.
01491 836586, www.brightwines.co.uk
14 acres of red and white grape vines producing quality wine in classically
balanced, elegant styles. Tours and tastings by appointment.
Brook Farm
Milton Road, Drayton, Abingdon OX14 4EZ.
01235 829262. Free range eggs and lamb.
Brookleas Fish Farm
East Hendred OX12 8LN. 01235 820500.
Trout fishing and smokery.
Buscot Park Estate Soft Fruit Farm
Buscot Park, Faringdon SN7 8BU. 01367 245705. Strawberries, raspberries,
tayberries, blackberries, black/red/white currants, broad beans, runner
beans.
Callow Farm Shop
Callow Farm, Stonesfield OX29 8EG. 01993 891967.
Family shop, selling traditional sausages, dry-cured bacon, pork, beef,
lamb, poultry, free-range eggs, vegetables, cheese, bread, cake, preserves,
pies.
Chiltern Valley Winery/Old Luxters Brewery
Old Luxters Vineyard, Hambleden RG9 6JW.
01491 638330, www.chilternvalley.co.uk
Coldronbrook Meats
Glebe Farm, Spelsbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3JR. 01608 811118. Dexter beef
and other high-quality local meat. Home deliveries.
Dews Meadow Farm
Oxford Road, East Hanney, Wantage OX12 0HP.
01235 868634. Pig farmers producing additive-free pork, award-winning dry,
cured green and smoked bacon and hams, speciality sausages and burgers,
including gluten-free products.
Duns Tew Organic Beef
Hill Farm, Duns Tew, Bicester OX25 6JJ.
01869 347541. Home-bred prime organic beef, joints, sirloin/rump/fillet
steak, braising and stewing steak, beefburgers, steak pies and ready meals.
Foxbury Farm Butchers and Farm Shop
Burford Road, Brize Norton OX18 3NX. www.foxburyfarm.co.uk
Premium beef, lamb, pork (all reared on the farm), local vegetables, poultry,
venison and local grocery items, pies, bakery products, ready meals.
Foxcombe Hill Farm
Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5DZ.
01865 310693. A small organic farm producing pork, eggs and poultry.
FWP Matthews Ltd
Station Road, Shipton-under-Wychwood OX7 6BH. 01993 830342, www.fwpmatthews.co.uk
Millers of high-quality organic and conventional flours.
Godwin's Ice Cream Farm
Manor Farm, Weston-on-the-Green, Bicester OX25 3QL. 01869 351647. Fresh-made
ice cream direct from farm.
Hendred Vineyard
Sheephouse Barn, Allins Lane, East Hendred
OX12 8HR. 01235 828430, www.hendredvineyard.co.uk
Family-run vineyard since 1972, producing a distinct range of still and
sparkling white wines.
Local Tastes
20 Buttermarket, Thame OX9 3EP. www.localtastes.co.uk
Shop devoted to locally produced food and drink, all sourced from within
30 miles.
Meadowsweet Beef
The Jays, Horley, Banbury OX15 6BE
01295 730668. Family-farm producing naturally reared beef cattle (Aberdeen
Angus and Continental crosses), boxed beef delivered direct to door, all
produced on the farm, cereal, hay, grass-fed beef, no artificial growth
promoters, chemicals or additives.
Millets Farm Shop
Frilford, Abingdon OX13 5HB. 01865 391555, www.milletsfarmcentre.com
Fresh fruit, vegetables, bakery, delicatessen, fishmonger, wine, butchery,
farm shop and pick-your-own.
Over Norton Park Farm Shop
Firs Farm, The Green, Over Norton OX7 5PT.
01608 646499, www.overnortonpark.co.uk
Farm shop specialising in local produce, free-range pork, sausages, bacon
and ham, south Devon beef and free-range rainbow eggs, bakery products,
beverages, dairy, fruit, honey, meat, poultry, vegetables, wine and beer.
Oxford Cheese Company
Retail sales at: Woodstock Road Deli, 15 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HA
and 17 Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DU. Products: Oxford Blue Cheese, Oxford
Isis, Oxford Sauce.
Peach Croft Farm
Radley OX14 2HP. www.peachcroft.co.uk
Family farm, pick-your-own, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, potatoes,
free-range, traditionally-reared Christmas poultry, bakery, dairy products,
eggs, honey and meat.
Willowbrook Farm
Hampton Gay OX5 2QQ. 01865 849957.
Family-run organic farm specialising in poultry, some organic poultry and
goose, lamb and goat.
Worton Farm
Worton, Cassington OX29 4SU.
01865 882644. Seasonal home-grown organic vegetables, fruit, herbs, cut
flowers and eggs. |
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