RESTAURANTS

THE BEEHIVE INN

1-3 Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham (01242 579443)

Welcoming traditional pub that chalks up seasonal daily specials such as braised rabbit with cider, rosemary and cream; cider-marinated Gloucester Old Spot pork chop and cassoulet.

PIE AND MASH

10 Bennington Street, Cheltenham (01242 702785; www.pienmash.com)

A hearty choice of home-cooked food with a low-fat and low-salt policy. All ingredients are organic and locally sourced.

THE PLOUGH

Kimbolton Road, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire
(01234 376274; www.bolnhurst.com)

Raymond Blanc-trained chef Martin Lee offers modern British food made from carefully sourced, high-quality ingredients including fish from Brixham and Plymouth (fish caught one day is available the next) and venison from the Denham Estate in Suffolk. The veg is from local growers and the bread is baked on site using the pub's own cultivated yeast. Dishes are hearty and include braised pork belly with black pudding mash, roast pumpkin tart.

THE OLD BUTCHERS
7 Park Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Oxon (01451 831700; www.theoldbutchers.com)

Many of Peter and Louise Robinson's ingredients are produced within 30 miles of the kitchen door. Regulars often bring in home-grown produce such as garden lettuces, radishes, watercress and even "Cotswold poached" crayfish; in return, the grower gets a glass of wine and a mention on the menu. The regularly changing menu varies from Vietnamese-style squid to rack of lamb, home-made prosciutto and a fine selection of British cheeses.

THE VILLAGE PUB
High Street, Barnsley, near Cirencester (01285 740421; www.thevillagepub.co.uk)

Top-notch English cooking using meat from a local butcher, Cornish fish delivered daily and fresh vegetables from Barnsley House gardens. The menu changes twice daily.

MEAT

THE BUTTS FARM SHOP
South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5QE
(01285 862224; www.thebuttsfarmshop.com)

Gary Wallace and Judy Hancox farm rare breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry. Gary was among the developers of a marketing initiative in association with the Rare Breed Survival Trust with the aim of establishing quality outlets for traceable, high welfare British farm animals. Their shop sells rare-breed meat, home-cured bacon and sausages. Try their Beef and Fresh Creamed Horseradish or gluten free steak burger. Cotswold Gourmet Meats is their mail order company.

CHESTERTON FARM SHOP
Cranhams Lane, Chesterton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6JP
(01285 642160; www.chestertonfarm.co.uk)

Peter and Ruth Jenner became the first UK butcher to be RBSR accredited. They rear Gloucester Old Spot pigs, White Park Hereford, Dexter and Beef Shorthorn cattle, Dorset Down, Norfolk Horn, Portland, Shropshire and Southdown lamb. They also offer Hogget Lamb (meat from sheep that are 1-2 yrs old). They cure their own bacon from Tamworth and Berkshire pigs and bake their own faggots and homemade pies.

EASTWOODS OF BERKHAMSTED
Berkhamstead, Hertford HP4 2EF (01442 865012)

Joe Collier’s store was voted Best Small Store 2005 by the Soil Association and was declared Britain’s Best Bucher in 2001 by the Meats Trades Journal. It is dedicated to selling top-quality, organic, free range and seasonal rare breeds meats from small suppliers. Some of its more unusual products include Joe Colliers’ Six Nations Sausages and Grand Slam Lamb Burgers. The shop has won Organic Specialist Shop of the Year in 2001 and is a member of the Guild of Q

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