Ledbury Food Bank – your help is appreciated!

One of our aims for last weekend’s Ledbury Big Soup was to raise awareness of the work of Ledbury Food Bank.

Mark Lister from the Food Bank has provided the following update…

Founded in 2012 to provide emergency food and support at St Katherine’s Hall, over 70 volunteers are now delivering the Food Bank’s services from an industrial unit at Homend Trading Estate, near Ledbury Railway Station to which it moved in 2021.

The new premises allow for more flexibility and capacity for service delivery and is open on Wednesday and Friday from 10am to midday. We are now also open each Thursday evening between 6.00 and 8.00pm.

People needing the Food Bank’s help (clients) may be referred there by local agencies, but can seek help directly by phone or in person when the Food Bank is open.  Clients’ needs are assessed and they are given a shopping list from which they can pick from a range of regularly stocked items (food and household), which is then made up for them.  They can also select other items not on the list including seasonal fruit and vegetables and other donated food.

But it’s more than just food.  The Food Bank’s skilled coordinator staff will check to see if other help can be provided to the client.  This could be assistance in sorting out non-receipt of the correct state benefits, debt advice, budgeting, housing advice and addressing fuel insecurity.  The Food Bank links with other local support agencies to help people from reaching a crisis point, and make sure they can afford the essentials like food.

At the same time the Food Bank offers a safe and welcoming hub where people can meet and perhaps share a breakfast. The food bank is also now a Warm Space. It is open each Wednesday and Friday between 12.00 and 4.00 for anyone to spend some time in a warm environment over the winter.

Mark Lister said ‘These are very worrying times for many people, the food bank is here to try and help remove some of the stress for people struggling with the rising cost of living’.

How can we help?

Donating food – use the collection points at the Co-op, Tesco and One Stop or schemes run by local churches or businesses.

Donating produce – contact the Food Bank if you have a surplus of seasonal fruit or veg from your garden or allotment.  It will be a welcome addition to what’s on offer.

Donating money – Money is used to keep up the stock of staple items, for running costs and for professional services, including advice services – the Food Bank has over 50 regular donors, and one off gifts always help. You can give online, by standing order (ask for bank details) or in person.

Donating time – contact the Food Bank if you can help as a volunteer.  There are many ways you can get involved.

Contact Details

Phone: 07581 283092

Email: food@ledburyfoodbank.org

In Person: Unit 1, Homend Trading Estate, Ledbury HR8 1AR

Opening Hours: Wednesday and Friday 10am to midday, Thursday evenings between 6pm and 8pm.

Website: www.ledburyfoodbank.org (online donations)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now… The Ledbury Big Soup

Soup is a great food for Autumn and Winter.  We are inviting local food shops, hotels, cafes and butchers to tempt you with their best offerings in the Ledbury Big Soup being held on Saturday 26th November. 

More than 15 local businesses will be taking part and the format will be like the Ledbury Big Breakfast.  There will be soups to eat in or take out, and food shops will have the ingredients for you to create your own soup at home.  We will have recipes available for you to experiment.

Businesses will be offering their normal fare as well, and some may be serving soup on Sunday 27th November for the Ledbury Christmas Lights switch on.

Remembering the increasing needs of our Ledbury community, businesses taking part are being asked to make a contribution in cash or food to Ledbury Food Bank

Details of who is offering what and when will be available at this website from early November. 

Soups made with local seasonal produce are just the kind of sustainable and nourishing foods that the recently published Herefordshire Food Charter encourages us to eat.

Find out more about the charter and how you can sign up to it at https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/

Come along to the Food Group’s stall in the Charter Market on Saturday 19th November from 9am to 1pm to find out more about local food.

Ledbury Food Bank will be there to tell you how you can help them to help the community

Good souping!

Ledbury Celebration on 10th July – full programme available

The Ledbury Celebration on Sunday 10th July celebrates the local food and drink of Herefordshire and its neighbouring counties with an added menu of music, poetry and our historic heritage.


This year’s event brings an outdoor market to historic St Katherine’s, Ledbury next to the 15th century Master’s House, and just off the High Street. The event runs from 11am to 5pm with entertainment from midday.

Local produce will be on sale either to eat and drink “on the go” or to take home to savour in slower time.

Producers this year include:

• Case for Cooking
• Chock Shop
• Gun Dog Gin
• Hay Charcuterie
• Jus
• Kitchen Flowers
• Kontext Koffee
• Little Bento Box
• Little Marcle Organic Produce
• Miniyaki’s Japanese Street Food
• Myrtle’s Kitchen
• No Frickin Chicken
• Orchard Grove Preserves
• Rayeesa’s Indian Kitchen
• Seb’s Cider
• Tuston Market Garden
• Vicenta’s Empanadas
• Wykeham Gardens

In addition you will find:

• Sustainable Ledbury – find out about avoiding food waste
• Jayne Parry Ceramics
• Karen Tacey Ceramics
• CUP Ceramics – Pottery demonstrations
• Kid’s Kitchen – food activities for younger children
• Eat like your Ancestors

Ledbury Poetry Festival has lined up special “al fresco” poetic performances during the event featuring:

Dave Pitt – “Now more than ever, our world needs the raw anger of poets like Dave. Importantly, we also need the laughs he brings”
Emma Purshouse –“Her talent is in taking the most mundane situations and bringing them alive.”
Leena Batchelor – Pixie Muse – “Calling herself a “poetic minstrel with living in her veins”, Leena writes passionately about everything that strikes her mind and heart”

Poetry performances at 12.45pm, 1.45pm and 2.45pm


And More…

Beth Calverley, will be present with her magical Poetry Machine. This is your chance to experience poetry, created in response to your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and discoveries.

And a feast of musical entertainment…

Performances hourly:

Ledbury Community Choir – Ledbury’s own massed voices. Join in if you know the words (and the tune! At 12 noon.
Keith Baldwin, guitarist and singer, frontman of the band Rubble, will entertain from 1.10pm.
The Ledbury Singers will serenade you with their own smooth music style from 2pm.
• One-of-a-kind Voices Unlimited – rocking out their unmistakable “VU Wall of Sound” raises the tempo at 3pm.
Gruig, a rip roaring foot stomping band from Gloucestershire bring their sing-along Irish songs, jigs and reels to get you dancing at 4pm.

A special event at 1pm – Ledbury’s Community Art Project, “The Tale of the Bird and the Tree”, will reach its conclusion when the Bird will take flight and soar over to join the Tree accompanied by music.

And you can visit Ledbury’s heritage sites, or book in for a session of poetry with Ledbury Poetry Festival on the last day of the festival.

This event is organised by Ledbury Food Group in partnership with Ledbury Poetry, Ledbury Fringe and Ledbury Town Council.

The Ledbury Celebration is coming on 10th July – can you help?

We will post more about next month’s Ledbury Celebration annual food festival with added music, poetry and heritage shortly…but you can put the date in your diary – 11am to 5pm in St Katherine’s Car Park, Ledbury on Sunday 10th July.

But these events don’t happen by chance – we are looking for help with stewarding the event as a general steward or helping on the Food Group stand. We are looking for an hour or two of your time between 11am and 5pm. You won’t be on your own, and there will be professional stewards on site to help.

It’s a day when Ledbury receives many visitors and we want to put on a good show.

If you can spare an hour or two please contact David at 01531 634033 or Griff on 01531 633637

and…

If you know someone who likes putting up or taking down gazebos – please send them our way.

Another Date for your Diary – Ledbury Celebration 2022

Ledbury Food Group with its partners Ledbury Poetry Festival and Ledbury Town Council invite you to join us at this year’s Ledbury Celebration on Sunday 10th July.

This year’s event will again be held in the historic setting of St Katherine’s, Ledbury by our very special 15th century Master’s House – it worked well in 2019!  The event will include:

  • An outdoor food and drink market featuring the best of local produce and street food from the Three Counties for you to enjoy at the event or take home. We hope for as good a show as last time
  • “Al fresco” poetic entertainment provided by the Ledbury Poetry Festival
  • Outdoor musical entertainment featuring local musicians
  • Kids Kitchen, Cup Ceramics and a number of craft stalls

It’s the last day of Ledbury Poetry Festival so there’s lots going on, and our heritage buildings will be open for a visit.

The event will run from 11am to 5pm with entertainment from 12 noon.

As in previous years the Ledbury Celebration will be a free public event.  The event has received funding from the Herefordshire Council Festivals and Events Discretionary Grant. This grant scheme supported events impacted by Covid-19 and was funded by the Additional Restrictions Grant provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

If you are a locally based food producer using local produce and are interested in a stall at the event please contact our organiser Hannah Day at hannah@hannahday.co.uk.

Please contact us if you would like to help us setting up, stewarding or setting down after the event at Griff – 01531 633637.   Your help makes these events smooth-running and successful – even an hour or two helps.

More information about the food market and the performance schedule will be available on this Food Group website nearer the event.

  

“Blossomtime is back!”  News from the Big Apple

The Big AppleThe buds are starting to burst on the apple trees, last autumn’s cider is getting ready to be tasted, and the time is fast approaching for Blossomtime in and around Putley where the Big Apple has been welcoming visitors for thirty years.  Having cancelled this spring event in 2020 and 2021, the community organisation behind the Big Apple is delighted to be able to invite them back again on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd May

“When we were able to hold our autumn event last October, visitors were enthusiastic about the opportunity to enjoy being out and about in the countryside”, says spokesman Jackie Denman.  “Our cider and perry community responded so positively when we managed to arrange a delayed Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials in July 2021.  Now we can bring it all together again, with a Grand Cider Tasting at Putley Parish Hall, time spent under the apple trees at Dragon Orchard, and one-off events at Court Farm Aylton and Pixley Festival Church.  The full programme is available online at www.bigapple.org.uk.  We can’t wait to get back!”

As well as opportunities to taste a whole range of entries to the Cider and Perry Trials, cider and perry on sale will include Artistraw Cider and Perry, Bartestree Cider, Gregg’s Pit Cider and Perry, Halfpenny Green Cider Company and Pope’s Perry.

Highlights include:

  • ‘#RethinkCider’, a talk from Jane Peyton, the UK’s first accredited ‘pommelier’ and founder of the School of Booze.
  • The Elmley FoundationDrop-in printmaking with Laughing Betsy, supported by the Elmley Foundation, using ‘kitchen lithography’ and inspired by objects and images on loan from local families associated with cidermaking and apple growing.
  • Three guided walks each day will tell the stories of the orchards in and around Putley – will it be Norman’s Gap, Dorothy’s Delight or Nigel’s Pride? 
  • And, of course, there will be the usual delicious lunches and teas (and this time a brunch) provided by local community groups. 

Full details of the 2022 Ledbury Big Breakfast now available

Join us for Ledbury’s Celebration of Breakfast over the weekend of Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March – the 10th Ledbury Big Breakfast (postponed from January). 

19 local venues in and around Ledbury are taking part on one or more days in this event organised by Ledbury Food Group to celebrate our local food and drink producers and retailers and a healthy breakfast.  The event takes place at cafes, pubs, hotels, butchers and delis in and around Ledbury.

Again there is lots of choice from the lightest to the heaviest breakfast showing the ingenuity of our local food venues – check through the listing below for something to sample, savour and enjoy

Visit our butchers – Gurneys and Wallers – to discover their breakfast delights for you to take home and enjoy. 

Our delis will feature a wide range of local produce to take home to make a special breakfast.

Ledbury Refugee Support are again holding a special Middle Eastern themed breakfast at The Organic Café (above Handley Organics) on the Saturday to raise funds. 

The Country Market at Burgage Hall on Friday will have lots of local produce for sale for your breakfast at home. 

Things get very busy on the Saturday morning – if you see something or somewhere you fancy please book in advance where possible to avoid disappointment.  More places now offer breakfasts on Sunday.

See below for full details of what specials are available, where and when – many venues will also offer their normal breakfast menu.  A number offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.

The full listing of special offerings – what, where and when?

Based on information provided by the participants.  Many will also have their usual breakfast offerings available and will be open during their normal hours.

Cafés, Hotels and Pubs 

Corner House Cafe, 1 The Southend

9.45-16.00 FRI, SAT & SUN        

Phone 01531 635752                  Take-aways Bookings

  • English Breakfasts of all sizes –full, mini, non-meat, hard-worker’s, apprentice’s
  • Free tea, coffee or juice before 11 .30

Produce from: Willow Bromyard (eggs), Sessions (sausage/bacon), Bakers Dozen, Waller’s (Meat products)

Vegetarian, Gluten Free

The Feathers Hotel, 25 High Street

8.00-11.00 SAT only                   

Phone: 01531 635266                  Bookings

  • Hot smoked salmon with spinach omelette and cream cheese
  • Bacon meatball with white pudding and bine tomato baguette and mushroom ketchup
  • Rarebit, glazed muffin and fried egg.

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Janey’s, 15 The Homend

9.00-13.30 FRI & SAT

Phone: 01531 248008                 Take-aways Call & Collect

  • Full English.
  • Savoury and Sweet Breakfast Waffles
  • Granola/cereal station with yogurt and fresh fruit.

Produce from: Bakers Dozen (Bread etc.), Jenkins Greengrocer

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

The Ledberry, 36 The Homend

9.00-12.00 SAT & SUN

Phone: 01531 632676                 Call & Collect  Bookings

  • Waller’s Bacon and Sausage baps
  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels
  • Ham and smashed avocado bagels
  • Overnight oat pots with fruit compote

Produce from: Waller’s (meat products), Bakers Dozen, Hedonist Bakery, Jenkins Greengrocer

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Ledbury Rugby Football Club, Ross Road   

9.00-11.00 FRI & SUN                  

Phone: 01531 631788                 Take-aways Bookings

  • Full English
  • Breakfast Baps
  • Freshly made Omelettes
  • Freshly made Pancakes

Produce from: Gurneys Family Butchers

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Malthouse Café & Gallery, Church Lane

9.30-15.30 FRI & SAT,               

Phone: 01531 634443                 Take-aways Call & Collect Bookings

  • A range of special breakfasts to sort all tastes from our ever changing menu

Produce from: LDA Meats, Peter Cooks Bread, Mays (eggs)

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Market House Café, 1 The Homend

9.00-15.00 FRI & SAT, 10.00-14.00 SUN         

Phone: 01531 633011                 Take-aways Call & Collect Bookings

  • “Breakfast Nest” – crispy bacon, Sunnyside egg, melted cheese nestled in hollowed out baked potato with chives
  • “Café Pancake Platter” – pancakes, maple syrup, berries, bacon, scrambled egg, chocolate chips, fresh cream

Produce from: Waller’s (meat products), Baker’s Dozen, Jenkins Greengrocer, Total Produce (fruit & vegetables), plus local eggs

 Gluten Free

The Organic Cafe (Handley Organics), 5 High St

9.00 – 13.00 FRI & SAT (last orders)               

Phone: 01531 631136                 Booking advised for Saturday

  • Friday only – Mixed roast vegetables (made in house) on toast (bread made for us by la Delice) with dressing (made in house)
  • Saturday only – Specially inspired menu supporting Ledbury Refugee Support Group – Falafel wrap and dips (both made in house).

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Pot & Page, 8 New Street – vegan specialist cafe

10.00-15.00 FRI, SAT & SUN      

Phone: 01531 248743                 Bookings

  • Loaded rosti stack with a savoury compote.

 Produce from: Tuston Market Garden (Ashperton)

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Pot and Page are also running a tea tasting event featuring British grown teas on Friday 11th March evening – find out more at https://potandpageevents.square.site/events

Weston’s Cider Scrumpy House, HR8 2NQ

9.00 – 12.00 FRI, 10.00-12.00 SAT & SUN      

Phone: 01531 660626                 Take-aways (1 Hr notice) Bookings advised

  • Full English with vintage cider sausage
  • Vegan Breakfast Hash – Potato, peppers, mushroom, roast tomato on toasted sourdough
  • Eggs Benedict with cider baked ham

Produce from: Neil Powell (cider sausage) LDA Meats, Country Flavours (eggs), Total Produce (vegetables), St George’s Bakery (Corse)

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free (on request)

Seven Stars, 11 The Homend

9.00-11.00 SAT & SUN               

Phone 01531 635800                  Take-aways + Call & Collect (Baps only) Bookings

  • Full English
  • Small full English
  • Vegetarian Breakfast
  • Sausage or Bacon Bap

Produce from: LDA Meats

 Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Sunrise Café, 23 High Street

9.00-12.00 SUN only                  

Phone 01531 634111                  Take-aways Call and Collect.  Bookings

  • Our full English breakfast with a free drink.

Produce from: Gurneys Family Butchers, Total Produce

Vegetarian, Gluten Free

The Nest, Hereford Road, HR8 2PZ

10.00-13.00 FRI, SAT & SUN (last bookings for special breakfasts 12.30)

Phone: 01531 670816                 Call & Collect (1 Hr notice) Limited Bookings. 

  • Benedict Stack – eggs benedict with pesto, prosciutto and hollandaise
  • Little Verzons Breakfast Roll – Ploughman’s Scotch Egg Mix (or Veggie option with Beanie HMSE Mix or Vegan Option with Negg HMSE Mix as a pattie) accompanied with  Willys Kitchen balsamic, Nest onion marmalade dressing and a fried egg (Veggie and Meat) 
  • Homemade baked beans on toast – Vegan and GF
  • Banana and Carrot muffins – Vegan
  • Sweet and Spicy BC – A Chorizo, sausage and marmalade casserole – using Severn Spots chorizo and homemade marmalade with bread – Veggie option available.

Produce from: Willys (Balsamic), Severn Spots (Chorizo), Burger mix from HMSE, Nest Marmalade, Local Eggs from Filly Brook (Bishops Frome), Peter Cooks Muffins, Bakers Dozen Muffins, LDA – Meat, Netherend Butter, Nest Pesto, Cotteswold Dairy, Nest Coffee, Trumpers Tea

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

The Talbot, 14 New Street

8.00-10.00 FRI, SAT & SUN        

Phone: 01531 632963                           Bookings

  • Severn & Wye smoked salmon and eggs
  • Full English breakfast
  • Full Veggie Breakfast
  • Eggs on toast “your way”
  • Bacon or Sausage sandwiches

Produce from Severn and Wye Smokery, Walter Rose Wiltshire Sausages

Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Trumpet Corner Cafe, Trumpet HR8 2RA

9.00–14.00 FRI, SAT & SUN       

Phone: 01531 670082                           Take-aways Call & Collect Bookings

  • Full English breakfast
  • Full Veggie breakfast
  • Smoked salmon & scrambled egg on toasted bagel
  • Brûléed porridge with fresh berries
  • Fresh pastries

Produce from: Legges of Bromyard, Jus apple juice, Macneil’s salmon, Berries Unlocked (Munsley)

 Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Delicatessens & Shops

Ceci Paolo, 21 High Street

9.0-1700 FRI & SAT                   

Phone 01531 632976

Local breakfast produce including smoked fish, yoghurt, cheeses, bread, honey and our own delicacies.

Local producers products sold include: • Severn and Wye Smokery, Three Counties Honey, Peter Cooks Bread, Charles Martell (cheeses), Neal’s Yard Creamery

Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Handley Organics, 5 High Street

All day FRI & SAT            

Phone: 01531 631136

Lots of local produce and ingredients to make a tasty breakfast to take home including cereals, eggs, croissants, bread etc.

Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free

Butchers

Gurneys Family Butchers, 21 The Homend

All day – FRI & SAT

Phone: 01531 632526

Try our new recipe sausage – the Gurney’s Banger – as part of your breakfast.

David T Waller and Sons, 71 The Homend

All day – FRI & SAT          

Phone 01531 632739

Taste and take home our special breakfast sausage. Tastings 9.00 to 12.00

Country Market

Burgage Hall, Church Lane

9.00 – 12.30 FRI only

Local produce for you to take home for a special breakfast (or other meal!)