The ancient Greek philosopher Plato is believed to be the person to have come up with the saying: “necessity is the mother of invention”, to convey the fact that a need or problem can encourage creative efforts to meet that need or solve that problem. If ever there was a time when this were true, then Britain in 2021 operating under COVID-19 lockdown is it.
Whilst here at StayLets we have adapted our policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our staff and those renting our apartments, whether they be key workers or those unable to return home. Other businesses have had to totally transform the way they operate. In this blog we wanted to shine a spotlight on those businesses in the Cheltenham area that have transformed the way they work to ensure that people have access to good quality, local, fresh produce. We hope this list may be useful to our clients currently staying at StayLets Cheltenham and the wider population.
This multi-award-winning butcher’s shop in Prestbury, on the edge of Cheltenham is offering a home delivery service with a wide range of locally sourced, meats, pies, cheeses and other pantry items. They are currently delivering free within an eight-mile radius of their shop. Visit www.waghornesbutchers.co.uk or call 01242 244474.
The Bath Road, Cheltenham outlet of Cook is offering home delivery for people “at risk”, self-isolating or working for the NHS. Cook offer an extensive range of frozen meals that they pride themselves look and taste homemade. They offer main meals and desserts as well as meals that are vegan, gluten free and dairy free. Visit www.cookfood.net to order or call 01242 571464. The Click and Collect service can be collected from 248 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7NB.
Food Loose are part of a local charity, Global Footsteps, and specialise in offering food and cleaning products that are plastic free. Their range includes beans, lentils, pulses, grains and cereals, dried fruit, herbs and spices, nuts, seeds and pasta. They offer both a home delivery service within 5 miles of their shop at 16 Portland Street, Cheltenham and a click and collect service (Tuesday to Friday). Orders are subject to a £10 minimum spend or a minimum of 5 products. For details of how you can order by email visit their website www.foodloose.co.uk
Gloucestershire based Creed Food Service are one of the country’s leading wholesale food service companies serving a wide range of businesses and organisations. They have introduced a new online ordering service for next day collection from their premises (on Ashville Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, near Staverton) or delivery with a minimum order of £50. They stock over 3,500 items, many of which can be bought individually, in cases or from a selection of pre-selected boxes including the “Creed Big Night in Box”. To order visit their website.
Dunkertons opened their Cider making facility and shop in 2018. Their future plans include a farmer’s market style shop as well, but for now their shop is open again and they are offering a Home Delivery Service within a 10 mile radius of Dowdeswell Business Park, just outside Cheltenham. They have a minimum order of £30, charge £3 for delivery on their own range of ciders and some great local cheeses. Visit their website for more details.
Maison Chaplais
Maison Chaplais are a delicatessen and bakery in the Tivoli area of Cheltenham. As well as staple ingredients such as eggs, flour (Shipton Mill) they also stock a great selection of delicatessen items (including more than 40 cheeses and some great wines) and a wide range of home cooked food including braised beef pie, cottage pie, fish cakes and lasagne. As well as being open for collection, they will also deliver to the local area free of charge on orders over £30. To pre-order your collection or request a delivery please call 01242 570222.
Bath Road Beers stock an impressive 350 different drink brands. These include beers made as little as one mile from their shop and a range of ciders made from within a 30 mile radius. They offer a home delivery service with free local delivery on orders above £50. To order please visit their website.
Cheltenham Catering Supplies have been supplying restaurants, pubs and cafes for the last 12 years. With these customers pretty much all closed for the time being, they have transformed themselves into a local home delivery service. Orders are made online and have a 48 hour turnaround time. They stock a wide range of food and grocery items, drinks and household products. They have a minimum order value of £50. Priority delivery is available for NHS workers. For more information and to order visit their website.
Primrose Vale Farm Shop situated just outside Cheltenham on the Shurdington Road is remaining open, although limiting the number of shoppers in the shop at any one time to allow for social distancing. They have also launched a “click and collect” service and an online order and home delivery service for the most vulnerable for certain parts of Cheltenham (check website for updates). As well as their fresh fruit and produce that would usually be pick your own, they stock all your daily essentials, meat, fruit, vegetables, cheeses and frozen food.
Lumiére Restaurant and Wellocks Greengrocer
Lumiére Restaurant ordinarily a contemporary 3AA Rosette Award winning restaurant, is teaming up with suppliers to allow a wide range of produce to be clicked and collected from them. They have teamed up with Wellocks Greengrocer to provide an order and collect service from the restaurant. A range of pre-picked boxes are available as well daily essentials and more luxury items. To order from Wellocks visit their website. The restaurant is also facilitating orders through their butcher weekly, contact the restaurant for details.
We would like to congratulate all the businesses listed on the innovative ways that they are operating, giving our clients and local residents access to a great range of high-quality local produce.