For many people, Christmas is a season defined by food and the joy of cooking, sharing and indulging with loved ones. In Gloucestershire, we have an abundance of local producers who can help bring those festive foodie moments to life. From butchers, bakers and ice cream makers, to cheese specialists, dessert connoisseurs and craft brewers, our county has everything you need for a truly local Christmas. Discover some of Gloucestershire’s finest foodie businesses in our round-up below.



Meat and two veg
Purchasing your Christmas centrepiece from your local butcher not only helps to support small family businesses and the local economy, but the quality of the meat and welfare of the animals is often higher than purchasing from a supermarket.

You’ll find more than just a turkey and a joint of beef at your butcher, too. Their counters are usually full of the traditional extras we’ve come to expect on our festive plates – pigs in blankets, sausage meat, bacon to cover your turkey, and goose fat for your roast potatoes can be found in most butchers, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

Martins Meats, Ben Creese, Jesse Smith & W.J. Castle and Waghornes are just a few local butchers with a big focus on quality, animal husbandry and supporting local, British farming.

Farm shops are destinations in themselves nowadays, with many offering cafes, events and activities alongside the actual shops. As well as the usual meat counter offerings, some of them now cater for vegetarians and vegans, with nut roasts, vegetable wellingtons and plant-based sausages an increasingly common sight on farm shop shelves.

Whether it’s locally grown veg boxes, eggs, cakes, artisan crackers or homemade stuffing, farm shops sell the majority of items you’ll need for a true festive feast. Jolly Nice Farm Shop even sell foraged, natural decorations from their farm, while others sell homegrown Christmas trees. Many farm shops stock products from local growers and producers, so you’ll be making double the impact when you do your Christmas shop at one of these venues.

Some of shops we’ve come across that we like the look of are Over Farm, Court Farm Shop, Todenham Manor Farm, Wotton Farm Shop, Abbey Home Farm, Daylesford and Vegetable Matters.



Say cheese
No Christmas table is complete without a good cheeseboard, and our county has an impressive selection of producers to choose from. Godsell’s award-winning cheese is handmade in the Cotswolds using milk from their own herd of cows, and Simon Weaver Organic have been creating organic, award-winning cheeses using milk from the cows on their farm for over 20 years.

The CheeseWorks is a family-run business that has been serving as a cheese monger to the people of Cheltenham and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. With an incredible array of cheeses, from local items like Cotswold Brie to those from further afield like Norwegian Gjetost, they strive to provide their customers with the best local, national and European products. They also stock a selection of artisan products including chutneys, crackers, whisky, wine and chocolate to accompany your chosen cheeses.



The little extras
Whether it’s cranberry sauce with your turkey, mustard with your roast ham, or ploughman’s chutney with your post-dinner cheese board, our local producers can help to stock up your pantry and make sure you’ve got a condiment or accompaniment for all occasions.

Selsley Foods have a lovely selection of chutneys, jams and their famous Gourmet Mulling Syrup – perfect for jazzing up your mulled wine – while The Artisan Kitchen have a sweeter focus, with a huge range of uniquely-flavoured jams and preserves. We’ve got our eyes on the Negroni Blood Orange Marmalade, the Toffee Apple Jam and, of course, the Christmas Marmalade.

If you want to spice up your festive feast, Tubby Tom’s sauces and seasonings will do just the trick. Their curry rubs and sauces are ideal for making leftover turkey curry, while their new American Pie Dust will bring a seasonal twist to your sweet treats.

And don’t forget about Tewkesbury Mustard. They produce handmade, artisan products from their small kitchen on the outskirts of Tewkesbury, with the aim of continuing a tradition that dates back to before the 16^th century. Perfect for pairing with meats and cheeses.



Something sweet
If dessert is the main attraction at your festive feast, The Cotswold Pudding Company is worth checking out. Their selection of sticky, sumptuous puddings make for an easy way to finish Christmas lunch.

We’ve got a wonderful variety of baked good options across the county, from Hetty’s deliciously fudgy brownies and oaty delights from Flapjackery, to luxury Christmas hampers from Huffkins filled with festive bakes and sweet treats.

For a frozen finale, Winstone’s Cotswold Ice Cream and Wholly Gelato both produce premium, locally made ice creams and gelato in a wide variety of flavours, so you’re bound to find the perfect accompaniment to your festive dessert!

If you prefer to get stuck in and make your own desserts, you’ll find most, if not all, of the ingredients you need from the aforementioned farm shops.



Cheers to Gloucestershire
Finally, let’s raise a glass to Gloucestershire’s thriving drinks scene. From craft beers and fine wines, to small-batch spirits, the county’s producers have got your festive toasts covered.

Beer lovers can stock up on locally brewed favourites, including ales, lagers and stouts from Gloucester Brewery, Stroud Brewery, DEYA Brewing Company, Goffs Brewery and Clavell & Hind.

For wine connoisseurs, we’ve got a lovely selection of vineyards in the area, including Poulton Hill Estate, Woodchester Valley Vineyard and Larkhill Vineyard, all of whom offer tours and tastings if you’re looking for a wine-related gift this Christmas. Another vineyard with an interesting twist is Cotswold Hills, which is a social enterprise by the Royal Agricultural College that gives its students experience of employment, as well as using profits to aid in funding student business start-ups. They’re not open to the public, but you can purchase their wine on their website.

Spirit drinkers have plenty of options to choose from, with Sibling Gin, Copper Lion Distillery, Steeplechase Gin, Fox’s Kiln Distillery and Cotswolds Distillery all producing beautifully bottled spirits including gins, whiskies, rums, vodkas and the new coffee liqueur, Coff Mixture, from the faces behind Sibling Gin.

If a cup of hot coffee after dinner is more your thing, Ethical Addictions Coffee offers ethically sourced, locally roasted beans that make the perfect post-roast drink. And for an alcohol-free option, why not pick up some locally-produced fruit juices from Hayles Fruit Farm, Bensons The Juicers or Bentleys Castle Fruit Farm.


Of course, there are many more wonderful producers than the ones mentioned above. Made in Gloucestershire is a great place to start when sourcing Gloucestershire-based food and drink makers, so check out their member directory for more inspiration.

Whether you’re shopping for Christmas Day lunch or stocking up on consumable gifts for family and friends, supporting local businesses this festive season will help to make it a super special Christmas all round.