London
Dugard & Daughters, Herne Hill
Free-range, rare-breed meat that’s been sourced, aged and cut with care, plus wines, local beers, and artisan larder products.
Arch 286, Milkwood Rd, SE24 0EZ; 020 7733 2608; dugardanddaughters.com
Rooted Spices
High quality, carefully sourced spices, from amchur to za’atar, plus a range of blends, including one for an easy dal, and a “golden blend” to add to porridge and milk.
rootedspices.com
The Cure
Fresh fruit and veg, vegan and gluten-free baked goods, plus organic nuts, cereals and seeds help keep the residents of Hackney happy and healthy.
99 Southgate Rd, N1 3JS; 020 3893 0030; thecure.shop
East
The Gog Farm Shop, Cambridge
A farm shop that’s worth a stop: Neal’s Yard Dairy cheeses, an on-site butcher and baker, great wine, and homemade meals ready to heat’n’eat.
Heath Farm, Babraham Rd, CB22 3AD; 01223 248 352; thegog.com
Norfolk Deli, Hunstanton
This deli and online farmers’ market showcases wines from some of the 57 East Anglian vineyards (who knew?) and the best cheese, meat and preserves from Norfolk and further afield.
16 Greevegate, PE36 6AA; 01485 535540; norfolk-deli.co.uk
The Pudding Stop, St Albans
Not a sweet dream but an actual real (and online) shop where you can order whole cakes, blondie traybakes, bakewell tarts, cheesecakes to take away, or stay in for a slice of blueberry pie.
Christopher Place Shopping Centre, 6 The Colonnade, Verulam Rd, AL3 4DD; 01727 830357; thepuddingstop.com
Midlands
Baker St Cakes, Leicester
The bespoke wedding cakes are a big draw here, but any day can be brightened by macaron, canelé, savarin and pretty-as-a-picture choux creations from self-taught bakers and husband and wife team Naeem and Nailah.
37 Francis St, LE2 2BE; 0116 319 6389; bakerstcakes.co.uk
Village Greens, Glossop
The best produce takes centre stage at this picturesque greengrocers, which also offers a selection of meat and fish, plus salads and meals to go.
2 Marple Rd, SK13 5EY; 01457 852456; facebook.com
Cheese Society, Lincoln
Best known as a website with a monthly subscription service and useful layout (search under vegetarian, pregnancy friendly, blue, washed rind, crumbly), the Cheese Society is an actual shop, cafe and all-round temple of cheese in Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter.
1 St Martin’s Ln, LN2 1HY; 01522 511003; thecheesesociety.co.uk
North
Farmison, Ripon
Last year’s winner is an online butcher whose high-welfare heritage breed meat is cut to order, then shipped across the country within two days.
farmison.com; 01765 824050
Unicorn Grocery, Chorlton
This large grocery shop is a workers’ co-op, meaning the organic, fair-trade products are sold at affordable prices and the business is run along sustainable lines.
89 Albany Rd, M21 0BN; 0161 861 0010; unicorn-grocery.coop
Courtyard Dairy, Austwick, nr Settle
Thanks to close relationships with some makers, the well-informed staff may have even had a hand in producing the cheeses sold here. They’ll advise on a selection for the perfect board, and suggest oatcakes, pickles and port to complete the experience.
Crows Nest Barn, LA2 8AS; 01729 823291; thecourtyarddairy.co.uk
South
Hales and Moore, Rainham
Not only do these accommodating mongers let regulars know when their favourite fish comes in, they’ll also whip up impressive seafood platters for parties, and even dabble in seasonal game.
13 Station Rd, ME8 7RS; 01634 372782; facebook.com
Infinity Foods, Brighton
This much-loved organic and vegetarian shop, specialising in vegan, gluten-free and raw food,also includes recycling points and donates unsold bread to homeless shelters.
25 North Rd, BN1 1YA; 01273 603563; infinityfoodsretail.coop
Rice Up Wholefoods, Southampton
A vegan shop that encourages zero waste, bulk, environmentally-friendly purchasing of more than 100 wholefoods, along with herbs, spice and teas.
20 Hanover Buildings, SO14 1JH; 023 8184 7235; riceup.co.uk
West
Veg-in-a-Box, Exeter
The clue is in the name: seasonal veg, fruit and salad, from local farms where possible, is delivered, in a box, to the Exeter area, as well as parts of Dorset and Somerset. They also offer meat, fish and dairy.
The Old Piggery, Court Way Farm, Bishops Court Lane, EX5 1DH; 07951 786653; veg-inabox.com
Pipers Farm, nr Cullompton
This farmer-butchery sell cuts from higher-welfare native breeds, grazed on land farmed to encourage biodiversity. Products offered include the prime cuts, offal, and seasonal meat boxes such as mutton, slow-cooking or a bumper collection of pork, beef, chicken and duck labelled ‘autumn’..
Sidmouth Rd, EX15 1SD; 01392 881380; pipersfarm.com
The Warmley Bakehouse, Bristol
This community bakery is barely a year old butits sourdoughs , cakes, and sausage rollsare fast approaching cult status.
Unit 1, The Midland Spinner, London Rd, BS30 5JB; 0117 329 8578; facebook.com
Scotland
Locavore, Glasgow
This social enterprise aims to create a more affordable and sustainable local food network. It grows organically certified produce on sites within 16km of Glasgow city centre, offers veg boxes, bread and eco-certified cleaning products.
349 Victoria Rd, G42 7SA; 0141 328 3303; glasgowlocavore.org
Valvona & Crolla, Edinburgh
A stalwart in the category celebrates 130 years trading, providing Edinburgh with quality Italian products – pasta, oil, cheese, biscotti, wine – including their own range.
19 Elm Row EH7 4AA; 0131 556 6066; valvonacrolla.co.uk
The Orchard, Biggar
What began as a Lanarkshire greengrocer has since become a comprehensive deli, supporting independent labels, and offering its own range of preserves, ready-meals and frozen fruits not found in larger stores.
93 High St, ML12 6DL; 01899 221449; orchardbiggar.co.uk
Wales
One Mile Bakery, Cardiff
Former journalist Elisabeth Mahoney had the idea of making sourdough and jam then delivering it by bike in a one-mile radius. It proved so successful that baking classes for more than 2,000 people and five new OMB kitchens have followed in Wales and the west of England.
25 Heol-Y-Bryn, Cardiff CF14 6HX; 07990 807709; onemilebakery.com
Blasus Delicatessen, Carmarthen
‘Blasus’ means “tasty” in Welsh, and this deli lives up to its name with house-made bread and tarts, plus wine from the continent.
58 King St, SA31 1BD; 01267 233811; facebook.com
Ultracomida
Spanish deli that adds weight to its already considerable foodie cred with cooking advice and seasonal tips from renowned food writer Elisabeth Luard.
branches in Aberystwyth, Narbert and Cardiff; 01970 630686; ultracomida.co.uk
Northern Ireland
Arcadia Delicatessen, Belfast
Known for their exceptional hampers and cheese selections, the 86-year-old deli has a growing selection of artisan products from Northern Ireland.
378 Lisburn Rd, BT9 6GL; 028 9038 1779; arcadiadeli.co.uk
Indie Füde, Comber
Stocking only products from around Ireland means that seasonal eating is very much the order of the day at this deli, which recently opened a shop alongside its online service.
30 Castle St, BT23 5DZ; 028 9122 6359; indiefude.com
Sawers Deli, Belfast
There’s an Italian focus at Northern Ireland oldest deli, a treasure trove of cheese, olives, salume, oils and more – but they also do a fine line of their own-labelled conserves, tea and coffee.
5-6 Fountain Centre, College St, BT1 6ES; 02890 322021; sawersbelfast.com
