Tag: christmas trees cambridge

Christmas shopping in Cambridge

Cambridge is a wonderful city for Christmas shopping with so many beautiful independent shops alongside the big chains.  Here’s the low down on where I’ll be shopping this Christmas ….

cracker kit cutout
Image credit: Cambridge Imprint

….. Cambridge Imprint for beautiful Christmas cards, wrapping paper, gift tags, paper chain kits and their brilliant Christmas cracker kit which comes with everything you need to make superb personalised crackers.  Just add in your own little gift and a joke (cue pained groans from my nearest and dearest!).  And you end up with a gorgeous box to keep for yourself.

www.cambridgeimprint.co.uk

Radmore shopfront
Image credit: Radmore Farm Shop

…… Radmore Farm Shop for Christmas meats, game, free range turkeys, cockerels, geese and all the trimmings from hand made sausages to home cooked ham plus Vicky’s scrumptious Christmas cakes and mince pies.  Choose your Christmas tree from the selection of top quality Nordmann Firs (which won’t drop their needles) and, even better, Ben will deliver said tree to your door.

www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

Cambridge Cheese Company Christmas window
Image credit: Cambridge Cheese Company

…..  Cambridge Cheese Company for classic Stilton, local Cambridge Blue and beautifully kept cheeses from all over Europe.  Seasonal specials that they’ve been quietly maturing in their cellar include Gumburner (an old, very strong cheddar) and Dragon Slayer (a hard, sharp cow’s cheese).  You’ll also find panettone studded with marrons glaces, panforte, stollen, nutty toronne and plenty more Christmas deliciousness here.

www.cambridgecheese.com

Holly wreath
Holly wreath from Cambridge Market

…..  Cambridge Market for armfuls of holly and mistletoe to deck the halls, holly wreaths (lovely just as they are or add some bling with your own decorations), fresh fruit and vegetables.  At award-winning All Saint’s Garden Art and Craft Market, you’ll find a wide variety of local artists and crafts people selling hand made jewellery, ceramics and much more.  Perfect for winkling out original gifts.

www.visitcambridge.org/shopping/markets

Mistletoe from Cambridge Market
Mistletoe from Cambridge Market

This post is part of my “New in Cambridge” column in the December issue of Velvet Magazine.  Read more on http://www.velvetmag.co.uk

Radmore Farm Shop

The story of Radmore Farm Shop is really the story of a family.  Vicky Rogers grew up on Radmore Farm in Northamptonshire alongside her sister, parents and extended family.  While Vicky’s father reared pigs on a large scale to supply supermarkets, Vicky and her sister decided to get a little diversification project going.  They set up a small farm shop in a wooden shed, selling eggs, potatoes and vegetables that they’d grown themselves and this experiment turned out to be a big success.

Fast forward a few years ….. Vicky, by now in her final year of studies at Anglia Ruskin University, met Ben Aveling, who was working on a management training scheme in a Cambridge pub.  Ben had never worked on a farm before but it wasn’t long before he and Vicky were spending their weekends at Radmore and taking with them shopping lists from people who wanted farm fresh produce brought back to Cambridge.  Seeing the demand, this enterprising couple decided to set up a retail operation and so, in 2006, Radmore Farm Shop came to Cambridge, settling initially in Victoria Road, then moving to Mitchams Corner.  Earlier this year, it put down roots in splendid new premises in Victoria Avenue.

Radmore shopfront
Image credit: Radmore Farm Shop

Staffed by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team, it’s a light and airy space where a big range of stock is beautifully displayed.  Vicky and Ben’s aim is to make fresh farm produce available in a place where you can come and also do a whole shop so they offer a wide range of groceries.  In her bakery on the farm, Vicky makes meat pies, quiches and cakes and can also bake to order.  Ben is in charge of butchery.  There’s a superb range of meat and poultry on offer including home reared free range chicken, pork (from the pigs still raised by Vicky’s father but on a small scale these days), pedigree free range Dexter beef and lamb.  They also process game so you will find venison, pheasant and pigeon in season.

Vicky and son
Image credit: Radmore Farm Shop

Vicky and Ben are always increasing the range available at the shop and are passionate about championing the work and produce of local independent small suppliers.  They have just relaunched Radmore’s online store which you can access through their website.  Just browse through the products, pick a delivery day and your shopping will come to your door.

As for Christmas, Radmore has it covered.  Top quality Nordmann non-drop fir trees will be available from the end of November and Ben will deliver your tree for free in Cambridge.  Christmas meats include the top-notch Kelly Bronze free range turkeys, geese, ducks and free range cockerels from the farm (Vicky and Ben’s Christmas dinner of choice!).  Keep an eye on the website for details of special Christmas events and tastings which are happening in the coming weeks.

Vicky and family
Image credit: Radmore Farm Shop

 

So to finish, back to the family who all still live at Radmore Farm.  Vicky and Ben now have two beautiful little boys so the next generation is being raised there.  You can keep up to date with them all by checking out Vicky’s blog about family, farming and food on http://www.myfamilyandotherhungryanimals.com

http://www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

8 – 10 Victoria Avenue, Cambridge CB4 1EH