Describing it as 'the loaf and soul of Gloucestershire', Gloucester History Festival is launching its very own bread at its Spring Weekend this April 2026.
A special toast to the county, the new sourdough loaf has been created by the Forest Bakehouse in Longhope using organic flour from Shipton Mill near Tetbury, Double Gloucester cheese from Smart's Farm in Birdwood and red onions, as a nod to the original 14th century Newent Onion Fayre.
Shipton Mill has been milling since the days of the Domesday Book; while at Smart's Farm, three generations of the same family have been producing the famous cheeses which are chased down Coopers Hill at the world-renowned Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling every year, made using milk from rare breed Gloucester cows – one of Britain's oldest breeds.
The Forest Bakehouse, while more recently established in 2013, is an award-winning cooperative bakery with a passion for produce and the local community.
Baker, Chris Hill, said: 'The Festival Loaf is Gloucestershire through and through – it has heart, heritage and honesty, it's baked with love and tastes great, so it's just what history fans knead.'
The history-inspired loaf is on sale for the very first time at Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend, available from the box office at Blackfriars Priory.
For more information, or to get tickets to Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend, visit gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk/spring-weekend-2026.
