OUR Produce
We are proud to stock lots of lovely local produce some of which is so local it’s on our doorstep!
Trout
Our rainbow trout only travel a couple of miles up the River Itchen to us at West Lea. We supply mainly fillets, which Rachel prepares herself and are sold frozen. Whole trout are available at times, depending on supply. We also sell a range of different trout produce, most of which are handmade by other local suppliers, using the very same trout.
watercress
You may have noticed that we are clearing out some of our watercress beds over this winter, in order to give them a rest. They will be back soon.
In the meantime, our watercress farmer, Merv, still cuts and delivers fresh watercress daily sometimes from our own beds and sometimes from his other beds in Alresford, cut and bunched by hand as usual.
hampers
We supply a number of local businesses, holiday rentals and gorgeous Airbnb’s with bespoke hampers, which are filled to the brim with locally made and seasonally grown produce.
We also create hampers to order, which can be made to any size and any price point. Starting from £10, we are happy to make up a hamper to suit any occasion, from a teacher’s present to something for the most discerning relation at Christmas!
OUR Producers
Most of our produce comes from suppliers close by and some from a little further afield.
We are always on the lookout for new producers and exciting new ideas for stock. If you are interested in supplying us, please do get in touch.
These little bottles of organic herbs offer all the benefits of regular herbs, but without the washing, chopping, and food waste involved. They have a shelf life of two years, even once opened, and will instantly infuse your dips, dressings, and marinades with flavour and colour.
Emily McInnes runs her business locally in Bramdean, having trained in Alresford at Soles Butchers. She has 25 years experience and sources her produce locally, providing us with regular drops of delicious local meat and chicken.
This incredible fresh hollandaise sauce is made by Ouse Valley Foods in West Sussex, in small batches from from local free range eggs, Sussex butter, spiced wine vinegar and lemon juice. A must with our local asparagus!
Hand block printed by my very old friend, Bonky, these gorgeous tea towels are beautiful. Bonky makes her own blocks and prints all the tea towels herself in Hampshire.
Delicious olive oil grown in Spain and produced by an Anglo-Spanish family from Cheriton, Hampshire, right on our doorstep! Their heritage, passion and dedication can be felt in every drop.
The Tomlinsons family have grown forced rhubarb inside Yorkshire's Rhubarb Triangle for decades. They harvest by candlelight and deliver to us throughout the season. It really is a sweet as it looks!
Here is Paul, our New Forrest turkey farmer, who absolutely loves his turkeys. When he isn't in the middle of the turkey season he returns to his landscaping business.
Test Valley Venison supply us with their own sausages as well as burgers, steaks and diced meat. The meat is all harvested sustainably on local farms and estates.
Nearly all our pumpkins and gourds are grown 3 miles away from the shop and supplied to us by Newhouse Farm, who also supply us with their own pork and lamb.
Incredible sourdough made by Georgie in Tichborne in her kitchen - very local!
The spooky little chocolate lollies are made in Alresford by Pippa at Chocolate Craft, a couple of miles down the road.
Summerdown products taste divine thanks to the Black Mitcham peppermint grown on their family farm in the Hampshire countryside. A really special treat.
Michelle’s recipe for our best selling watercress and cheese scones is a closely guarded secret! She makes and delivers her freshly baked scones several days a week.
Smoked trout pates made in Winchester by Richard Butler in several flavours including my favourite, beetroot and horseradish, a Christmas special but we persuaded Richard to produce it all year round.
Christmas Pudding Flavour fudge is something very special - made near Hungerford by the lovely Alex Marsden-Smedley.
Excited to be stocking this most delicious fudge. Just one bite and I was an addict! All made by the lovely Alex Marsden-Smedley
Gorgeous kitchen posy made by Claudia&B, our "in-house" florists. A mother and daughter team who live very close to the shop, Jane and Meg supply us with pretty bunches of flowers daily..
Rachel is Honey Bee Happy in the Meon Valley. She is passionate about bees, wildlife and conservation, supporting Hart Wildlife Rescue with every sale.
Max makes all her preserves by hand in her kitchen in Preston Candover. We stock over 20 jam and jelly varieties and Max often makes use of our unsold fruit. No waste!
Leesa makes delicious homemade soups for us in Alresford. She also makes dahl and curry, in addition to watercress loaves and sourdough.
Like their chocolates, Summerdown products smell divine thanks to the Black Mitcham peppermint grown on their family farm in the Hampshire countryside.
Chocolate Craft chocolates are made in Alresford by Pippa and her team. We are so lucky to have such a fine chocolatier so close by.
We are lucky to have a monthly visit from Les Johnnies de Roscoff from Normandy bringing us amazing purple garlic on strings.
Made from Spanish olives, the quality of Mark's olive oil speaks for itself - the tin is gorgeous and the taste of the contents even better!
Dampney's Remarkable Drinks is very much a local, family business. Every bottle is steeped, pressed, filtered and bottled at Joint Dampney's home a few miles from here.
These are a luxury crisps once tasted never forgotten and I am speaking from experience!
A beautiful autumnal bunch of flowers hand tied by mother and daughter team, Claudia&B just a few miles from here.
We are so lucky to have Paul, a legendary and wonderful veg supplier on our doorstep. Who knew purple cauliflowers even existed?
The immune boosting health benefits of elderflower syrup are well known and Georgie make it by hand just a mile up the road in Tichborne.
Hayley's fishcakes are a firm favourite in the shop. Made from sustainable fish supplies, we stock Catch wightcakes and crabcakes in addition to regular seasonal specials, including Autumnal game galettes.
A new way to spice up your meals, these little bottles are like fresh herbs - they have a greater taste than dried herbs and a much longer shelf life than fresh.
Leesa makes her homemade watercress pesto in Alresford using watercress grown here. No food miles involved!
River Test gins are distilled in small batches and crafted using pure chalk-filtered water, which comes from the aquifer that feeds into the Test, creating an exceptionally smooth gin. Mini bottles are available!
Most of our vegetables are locally grown wherever possible, including customers' allotments and other small suppliers.
The Isle of Wight Tomato Stall delivers tomatoes weekly, in addition to padron peppers, long peppers, aubergines and other speciality tomatoes when in season.
We look forward to our monthly visits from Les Johnnies de Roscoff from Normandy, who supply us with amazing white and red onions..
Recently taken over by a great friend, Pott's bottled beers have become really popular in the shop due to the distinctive flavours and choice of brew.
Turner Hardy's tomato juices are the result of a passion for Bloody Marys by childhood friends Ed and Hugo - choose your own strength and punch!
Cheese Nibbles have a delicious melt in your mouth flavour and come in a simple pot which can be devoured in one sitting if not careful!
Our sustainable lumpwood charcoal is produced in Hampshire by Three Copse Woodland Products, a family business which owns the 3 copses they work and maintain..
The grapes used to make the Grange Estates sparkling wines are grown and produced under 2 miles away from the shop. We sell the classic version and the pink alternative.
Raimes English Sparkling produce elegant, well-balanced award-winning sparkling wines from grapes grown on their family farm on the chalk hills in Tichborne.
Hill Farm Juice is a local family business making the most delicious 13 flavours of juice. Their motto is “if you wouldn’t eat it, it doesn’t go in the juice”.
Jeanette is our secret gardener. She grows all her own flowers and plants from seed and delivers to us every Monday, all through the year.
Hampshire Bee honey is produced by rescued honeybee colonies in and around Old Alresford. Taking only the surplus honey leaves more than enough to see them through the longest of winters.
Bramley Village Bakery deliver their freshly baked bread regularly to the shop. The low GI sliced bread is the most popular and super healthy too.
The Tomlinsons grow forced rhubarb inside Yorkshire's Rhubarb Triangle. They harvest by candlelight and deliver to us throughout the season.
and our friends
We are all about supporting our local community. About reducing waste where possible. Championing other small businesses. We also support local charities close to our hearts.
Cameron Bespolka Trust
The trust was set up in memory of Cameron. He loved nature. He photographed it, blogged about it, immersed himself in it Birdwatching was a major part of his life. The Trust creates and sponsors outdoor event for young people from every background so they might discover the same passion for all things wild and natural.
LITTLE PIGGIES
None of our fruit or veg goes to waste thanks to these incredibly hungry refuse collectors, who live nearby in Bramdean! We collect up all our wasted/spoiled fruit and veg and it is given to these pigs on a daily basis and so none is thrown away.
AVINGTON PARK FARM COTTAGES
These gorgeous cottages can be rented separately or together. Whenever they are rented for a weekend or longer, you will be supplied by us with a cake made by Michelle and some local milk. If you do stay, we hope you will come and see us in the shop