We’ve updated our Food Information Page – AND new cafés to try!

Eating In or Eating Out? Our Local Food Information Page has been updated to provide the latest gen on local food retailers and eating places for you to sample.

Many who set up delivery services during lock-down are continuing to provide these now – so if you are reluctant to go out, the food can still come to you. Or you might just want a night at home with no cooking!

Find out more on the Food Information Page

For those venturing out, Ledbury has new or recently opened cafés to add to our fabulous range of cafés for all tastes:

Choccalistic, Homend Mews – 01531 637305 – Ledbury’s (fairly) new chocolate shop and tearoom (indoors and outdoors).

Pot and Page – 01531 248743 – newly opened in New Street, Ledbury featuring “plant based lunch and brunch menus”, and second hand books.

The Ledberry – newly opened in The Homend – 01531 632676 – a “multi brand boutique featuring an exciting range of clothing, homewares and accessories, as well as a secret garden for guests to enjoy light refreshments”.

The Sunrise Café – in the High Street – 01531 634111 – a basic café with breakfast options

In addition The Organic Café, High Street – 01531 631136 – is open again above Handley Organics with a whole new menu to explore.

In the Ice Cream World – award winning Just Rachel Luxury Desserts is now under new owners and has changed its name to Berry’s Luxury Ice Cream. It should still taste as good. Local suppliers are listed on the Food Information Page.

Finally an apology

We have been unable to notify you of new posts on our website in the past couple of months – including our popular monthly recipes. Hopefully this problem is now fixed. Please find any blogs you missed at link to blogs page.

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021

Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards

Congratulations to award winning local food producers

Several local to Ledbury producers have won awards at this year’s Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards 2021.

.Just Rachel, now based at the Hop Pocket, won the award for Best Dairy Producer for their scrummy ice creams.

Pixley Berries, from Pixley, won the award for Best Drinks Producer for their wonderful fruit juices and cordials.

David Powell of Awnell’s Farm, Much Marcle was presented with a special Outstanding Achievement award as well as Cattle Farmer of the Year. Mr Powell is renowned for his herd of Herefordshire cattle.

Details of all the winners across the county can be found at https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/19382855.revealed-winners-hereford-times-food-farming-awards-2021/

Well done to all!

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021

Local Food Updates – Thursday 20th May

Please continue to support our local food producers and food retailers – safely!

Welcome back indoor eating…

There’s good news for all of you who have shivered while eating outdoors since 12^th April– cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels can now feed you inside!

So now you can go out and enjoy a hearty Ledbury breakfast, a tasty lunch, tea and super local baking or a sumptuous dinner indoors without freezing to death.

We have updated information on eating places to reflect what is happening now – please support them if you are able to do so.

Remember places are operating at restricted capacity to comply with social distancing needs – you may need to book.

Most are also providing take away service – for those in a rush or looking for answers for a picnic (as the weather allows).

Don’t forget our markets – Ledbury Charter Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and Ledbury Country Market on Friday mornings.

Details of local businesses who provide delivery, order and collect or takeaway services have been updated.

You will find all the latest on our Food Information Page >>

Please let us know of any services we have missed so that we can include them in our next update – phone 01531 633637

April 29, 2021

Let’s encourage more visitors to Ledbury

Many visitors who come to Ledbury have no idea what to expect and don’t stay long. We want to encourage them to stay, spend, enjoy and tell others, and we want to attract people who have never thought of visiting Ledbury.

We can now tell visitors of all the attractions of Ledbury and Herefordshire on the newly relaunched “Visit Herefordshire” website.

You can see the Ledbury entries at https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/see-do/city-towns/ledbury, or just type “visit Ledbury”.

It’s a bit empty at the moment. Ledbury Town Council is encouraging local businesses and attractions serving visitors to get their business listed so that visitors can see the full range of what Ledbury has to offer.

It’s going to be a busy year for our local tourist economy (we hope) – we want to get lots of Ledbury and district tourist serving businesses on the website as soon as possible.

For those of us who don’t run businesses, “Visit Herefordshire” gives us a new way to explore where to visit, shop or eat locally – perhaps when we have visitors to entertain – or we just want to do something different.

Businesses of all kinds that serve tourists in our county can list their details for free. Get started at https://directory.visitherefordshire.co.uk/. You can set up a directory listing on the website to market your business (or several businesses). Choose the categories that best describe your business, provide a description, and add photos and links to social media. It’s straightforward to do.

You can help – if you know of a local business that serves visitors, encourage them to get a listing on the “Visit Herefordshire” website.

April 15, 2021

A Last Gift from Pascal

Pascal with breakfast breads at Chez Pascal 2018

Pascal Clarenne of Chez Pascal fame sadly passed away on Wednesday 7^th April.

Many will remember the joy of tucking into one of Pascal’s special pastries, breakfasts or lunches.

For all of us Pascal has left an unusual gift.

In the latter days of his illness, Pascal was supported by St Michael’s Hospice with whose help Pascal has left us one last recipe – for Raspberry Tart. Pascal creates the tart in his room at St Michael’s on a video available at https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/video/pascals-raspberry-tart/

This is probably one of the most inspiring cookery films you will ever see.

We remember Pascal for his support with Janie of the Ledbury Big Breakfast – when the enclosed photo was taken, for steamed up windows in winter, for Ledbury’s little bit of France, for the French onion soup, for pleasing both Ledburians and visitors.

Our condolences go to Janie and the Clarenne family.

If the video delights or moves you please donate to St Michael’s Hospice who made Pascal’s wish possible!

April 10, 2021April 10, 2021

Local Food Updates – Thursday 8th April

Please continue to support our local food producers and food retailers – safely!

We have news of new openings and first news of a new venture. (see below). We have updated our Local Food Information Page on our website with the latest detailed information – click here to access the page – to help you find local businesses that are here to serve you.

Ledbury Country Market operates on Fridays at the Burgage Hall between 10am and noon, and also offers an order and collect service.

Ledbury Charter Market runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays with several food stalls. More details on our Information Page – or check out the market’s Facebook site – Ledbury Charter Market.

Some of our Local Cafes and Eating Spots are now able to offer outdoor service from the week starting 12^th April, including The Malt House, The Nest and The Scrumpy House at Westons. Several others continue to offer takeaways or call and collect ordering to enable you to continue to enjoy their wares.

Local Pubs are also able to offer outdoor service where there is suitable space for this including The Farmers Arms, Wellington Heath, The Oak, Staplow and The Walwyn Arms, Much Marcle. The Wellington, Chance’s Pitch is sticking with its Call to Collect service only, as is The Slip Tavern, Much Marcle. For more information – check with your favourite by phone or Facebook to see what’s on offer, booking and collection arrangements etc.

Food Deliveries and Takeaways– details of local businesses who provide delivery, order and collect or takeaway services have been updated.

And news of things Old and NEW …

Kempley Farmers Market has been run by a dedicated team for the past 10 years, but they have decided time is creeping on and they are now calling it a day. Not all is lost however as the Market has been offered a new home at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle. The trial run for what is hoped will become a monthly market will be held at Hellens on Saturday 3^rd July – a date for your diary! Many thanks to all those who have made this award winning market such a success.

“Shop Safe Shop Ledbury”… All our “non-essential” shops in Ledbury will be open again from 12^th April. Please support them to help make up for a missing 3 months and bring the buzz and vibrancy back to the High Street – keeping a safe distance from others of course.

Maybe one day we’ll be able to do this again!

Good old days — Scene from Ledbury Ox Roast June 2013

Please let us know of any services we have missed so that we can include them in our next update – phone 01531 633637

March 16, 2021

Ledbury Celebration & Food & Farming Awards

We have some sad news and an opportunity for you to recognise a local food hero.

Ledbury Celebration

Our now traditional annual food festival in Ledbury on the last day of the Ledbury Poetry Festival in early July has become an extremely popular event featuring the very best of local food alongside fabulous live poetry and music, and a taste of heritage.

We were unable to run the Celebration last year due to the Covid emergency, and after looking at all the options we regret that we are again not able to run the event this year.

There are still too many risks and uncertainties for a small group like the Ledbury Food Group to take on running such an event, which depends for its atmosphere and success on the free and safe circulation of its many visitors and producers.

Please continue to support our local food and drink producers and retailers – we will continue to gather information on what you can buy or order and from whom on our Local Food Information page. Look out for our updates as and when restrictions are eased.

Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards 2021

Do you have a Local Food Hero?

Perhaps a local food supplier who has helped you through the past year?

Perhaps a local food retailer whose produce and service is consistently special?

Or do you have a favourite local café or restaurant? Perhaps one who has gone the extra mile?

You can now nominate your favourite Food Retailer, Farm Shop, Restaurant Café or Tea Room or Producer for recognition in this year’s Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards.

To find out how to nominate your favourite visit: www.herefordtimes.com/awards/foodandfarming

Full details of how to enter are there and are also available in the Hereford Times newspaper with an entry form for posting.

Nominations close at midday on Thursday 8^th April.