Whether you’re looking for seasonal fruit and veg for your family feasts, unique condiments and local cheeses to impress guests, or just fancy treating yourself to a homemade cake, Gloucestershire has an abundance of farmers’ markets just waiting to be explored.
With stallholders and farmers offering everything from locally-reared meats and organic fruit and veg, to craft beer, hot sauce and jam, there really is something to satisfy every food and drink connoisseur in SoGlos’s pick of the best Gloucestershire farmers’ markets to visit.
Stroud farmers’ market
Stroud is one of the biggest, busiest and most popular farmers’ markets in the UK, boasting between 45 and 60 stalls each week and plenty of organic producers selling artisan food and drink at Cornhill Market Place.
On top of heaps of local produce, including cooked food stalls all year round, there is also a wide range of traditional and contemporary crafts, a cafe for a welcome rest and even a buskers’ corner, with the award-winning market taking place every Saturday from 9am to 2pm.
Cheltenham farmers’ market
More than 30 bustling stalls from farmers and businesses within a 30-mile radius of Cheltenham line The Promenade from 9am to 2pm on the second and last Friday of every month.
The market offers a wide array of delectable delights, including meats and charcuterie; fresh fruit and veg; preserves and pickles; delicious desserts and homemade cakes; artisan breads; and even cider, perry and wine to tempt passing foodies.
Gloucester farmers’ market
Every Friday from 9am to 3pm, The Cross in Gloucester is transformed into a bustling, farming hub when more than 20 vendors take up temporary residence to sell a wide range of quality local food and drink.
Keen foodies will find everything from award-winning cheeses, wines and ciders, to prime meats and poultry straight from the farm, with a host of seasonal delights including fresh fruit and veg from local growers along with a variety of hot street food to tuck into.
Tewkesbury farmers’ market
Local farmers and producers pitch up at Abbey Lawns in Tewkesbury on the second Saturday of the month to sell an array of local delights, often spanning fresh local meats, homemade cakes, breads, preserves, pies, seasonal fruit and vegetables, along with a selection of local beers and ciders.
The small farmers’ market is open from 9am to 1.30pm and benefits from the striking backdrop of Tewkesbury Abbey — and shoppers can also sometimes find traditional and contemporary crafts for sale, too.
Cirencester farmers’ market
Head to Cirencester on the second and fourth Saturday of every month for more seasonal fruit and veg than you can shake a stick at, along with locally-sourced organic meats, free range poultry, choice of cheeses and dairy, and even the odd cupcake stall.
Held at Market Place from 9am to 2.30pm, shoppers can discover delights from a range of local producers and makers including Gloucester’s Over Farm, Corinium Ales, Hobbs House Bakery, The Costwold Curer and more.
Stow-on-the-Wold farmers’ market
Visit the charming Cotswold market town of Stow-on-the-Wold on the second Thursday of every month from October to March, or the second and last Thursday from April to September, to stock up on an array of fine local produce at its bustling farmers’ market.
From 9am to 1pm shoppers can peruse the 20 or so stalls that line Market Square, spanning everything from farmhouse cheeses and wines, ciders, juices, to freshly-baked bread and pastries, along with plenty of locally-reared meats and fruit and veg.
Nailsworth farmers’ market
From 9.30am to 2.30pm on the fourth Saturday of each month, stallholders descend on Nailsworth’s Mortimer Gardens to sell a host of locally-grown and reared produce such as fresh vegetables; tender meats; crumbly cheeses; homemade cakes; delicious jams and honeys; and locally brewed beer.
There are also usually some local craft stalls offering anything from stone ornaments to handmade soaps and cards — and there’s often live music, adding a lively and welcoming atmosphere for shoppers.
Dursley farmers’ market
Head to Dursley’s Market Place on the second Saturday of every month to shop for high quality and local produce, with everything from fresh farm meats, award-winning jams, seasonal fruit and veg, cheeses, home-baked breads and cakes, free range eggs and delicious fudge, as well as plants for all the seasons.
Held from 8.30am to 1pm from March to December, stalls are manned by local producers themselves, while shoppers can enjoy tea, coffee and homemade cakes in the Town Hall for the perfect start to the weekend.
Wotton-under-Edge farmers’ market
Mouth-watering meats and poultry from local farms sit alongside an array of seasonal fruit and vegetables, homemade pies, pasties, cakes and preserves and deliciously sweet honey at Wotton-under-Edge’s monthly farmers’ market.
Taking place in the Town Hall from 9am to 1pm on the first Saturday of every month, the market is the perfect spot to pick up seasonal ingredients, while shoppers can also expect plants galore, too — perfect for any budding horticulturalists.
Tetbury farmers’ market
Tetbury plays host to a market every Wednesday and Saturday, with stallholders gathering at the iconic Market House building in the centre of the pretty Cotswold town.
Visitors can expect to find a range of seasonal produce including vegetables, pies, fish and plants on Wednesday, with crafts, books and jewellery also on offer on Saturday.
Minchinhampton farmers’ market
A warm welcome and a wide range of local produce await foodies upstairs in Minchinhampton Market House, just a stone’s throw from the famous common.
Local producers and artisans set up stalls every Wednesday from 8.30am to 12pm, with the chance to stock up on everything from plants and flowers, preserves and sweet or savoury baked goods, to free range eggs, seasonal fruit and veg, along with a selection of crafts.
Winchcombe farmers’ market
Shop for local delights and seasonal ingredients at Winchcombe farmers’ market, taking place every Thursday from 9am to 10.30am outside Guide Hall and on the third Saturday of every month from 9am to 12pm outside the Town Hall.
Expect a handful of stalls selling everything from home-baked cakes and savoury goodies to locally grown fruit and veg, along with homemade jams and preserves, while there are also a range of artisans showcasing an array of crafts and handmade gifts.
Bourton-on-the-Water farmers’ market
The popular village of Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, hosts a popular farmers’ market on the fourth Sunday of every month, with shoppers treated to a huge variety of quirky stalls selling everything your fridge and stomach could desire.
Expect to find produce fresh from the fields; local meats and just-caught fish; seasonal fruit and veg; free range eggs; pickles and preserves; creamy cheeses; and the finest ice creams the Cotswolds has to offer from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Moreton-in-Marsh farmers’ market
Every Tuesday, growers, farmers, artisan food and drink producers and local crafters descend on the pretty Cotswold town of Moreton-in-Marsh.
Offering everything from fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish; cakes and bakes; produce from fresh eggs and cheese to biltong; to a range of arts and crafts, plants, candles, gifts and lots more, shoppers can browse from 9am to 3pm — or stick around for the afternoon and head to one of the many coffee shops or pubs that line the High Street.
