VISIT CHELTENHAM
An insider look at this food-focused city
Baker & Graze
It’s surprisingly di cult to get a good slice of toast these days. Baker & Graze, a bakery/deli/café on Su olk Street, serves theirs topped with smashed avocado & smoked streaky bacon as well as more creative options like fennel sausages, cavolo nero & anchovy butter or nduja, labneh & pickled fennel (from £8), plus a host of salads, sandwiches and delicate pastries. But, it also elevates its homemade sourdough from sideshow to serious menu option by o ering it with a simple smear of homemade jam – a confident move that speaks volumes about its tangy, crusty quality. bakerandgraze.com KF CE CD
Koj
Andrew Kojima, a 2012 Masterchef finalist, spent five years earning his stripes before opening Koj, a Japanese ‘grazing’ (sharing plates) restaurant that eschews sushi in favour of dishes like panko cauliflower and pork donburi (simmered pork mince with soy-pickled greens). The cocktails are punchy – as is the sake list – and the atmosphere is joyous. Koj was some time coming, but in it Kojima has truly proved himself a master chef. Five-dish bento menu from £24. kojcheltenham. co.uk CD KF
The Coconut Tree
The brainchild of five Sri Lankans who grew up together in Colombo, The Coconut Tree is a converted boozerturned-restaurant serving Sri Lankan street food in blue-and-white enamelware. Service is friendly and fast, and the food is a carnival of curries heady with coconut and turmeric, warm roti, hot battered spicy cuttlefish (a sort of grown-up calamari) and, of course, hoppers (coconut pancakes served with fruity, spicy sambals). Curries from £4, sides from £2.50). thecoconut-tree.com CD CE
The Royal Oak
While this pub is just outside Cheltenham, there are plenty of reasons to make a visit. It’s next to the famous race course, has log fires and a beautiful garden and serves veg from its own allotment as well as a range of local beers. The menu features sustainably caught fish and bespoke products from local producers. Sample Butcombe beer chutneys made by nearby Rose Farm and cider-cured salmon from Severn & Wye Smokery in Gloucestershire. Try the crispy lamb breast and chimichurri, or the traditional Sunday roast (mains from £14.50, roasts from £12). butcombe.com/pubs/ the-royal-oak CD KF
The Cheeseworks
O ering a variety of farmhouse cheeses and exceptional customer service, The Cheeseworks is a big step above your standard supermarket cheese counter. Cheeses line the walls, ready to be sampled, hand cut and wrapped in wax paper. While you wait for your order to be prepared, you can browse a selection of chutneys, ales and ciders
Sixways’ philosophy is to enjoy wine without taking it too seriously
(many of which are locally produced) and enjoy the family-run vibe. All of the sta are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about cheese. thecheeseworks.co.uk
Black Gold
This co ee shop might look like a saloon from the outside, but inside you’ll find filament-bulb fixtures, wing-backed armchairs and single-estate, sustainably sourced co ee alongside a variety of cakes and treats. We like that Black Gold is so rooted in the community – the cakes are made by a Cheltenham resident, milk is sourced from the Cotswolds and even the crockery is made by a local pottery business. facebook.com/ blackgoldco eeshop CD CE
Sixways Wine Bar
There aren’t many bars that strike the sweet spot between sophisticated and laid-back, but in its debut wine bar and shop, Sixways has nailed it. Its verre de vin preservation system means its entire range can be o ered by the glass, allowing customers to try a variety without committing to a full bottle. Its philosophy of ‘enjoying wine without taking it too seriously’ is as amenable to connoisseurs coming in for a glass of Chateau Peyrabon as it is your average punter ordering a bottle of the house ‘Plonk Blanc’ (yes, they do call it that). While the night away with a drink and sharing board of cheese or charcuterie (from £14), or come for breakfast (from £2). cheltenhamwineco.co.uk/sixways-wine-bar CD
Le Champignon Sauvage
It would be remiss not to mention Le Champignon Sauvage, one of only a handful of restaurants in the UK to hold two Michelin stars for over a decade. While they lost one last year, you should still sample the cuisine of David Everitt-matthias – he’s been widely credited with cooking that’s years ahead of the curve. He and his wife, Helen, have run the
Relax with restaurant since 1987, and his food unites the a drink at principle of terroir and classic French fare with
Masa + Mezcal flashes of originality – think wood pigeon with black pudding cream & choucroute of kohlrabi, and mango & Thai-spiced cream served with his famous Thai green curry sorbet. Two courses à la carte £60. lechampignonsauvage.co.uk SO
Well Walk Tea Room
With its trinket-filled shelves, polka-dot tablecloths and bountiful floral prints, Well Walk Tea Room is as much ‘twee room’ as tea room. Even if the decor isn’t your thing, the scones will be: plump, slightly craggy, tender and served warm with homemade strawberry preserve and clotted cream. Its sandwiches and cakes are generously filled and thickly sliced, the work of baker Isabelle. It’s a celebration of local ingredients treated with love and talent, served up with a smile and a hot pot of tea. Teas from £12.95 per head. wellwalktearoom.co.uk CE KF
Woodkraft
Emboldened by the success of his Mancunian joint, WOOD, Masterchef 2015 winner Simon Wood opened Woodkraft in 2018. It’s an informal eatery where guests can enjoy a meal or shop at the small in-restaurant deli. Here, Simon’s passion for quality dining meets with Gloucestershire’s wealth of local producers, resulting in a menu intent on flavour and accessibility. Expect ham hock and Hereford hop cheddar sandwiches (£7), Old Spot sausage rolls (£5) and delectable fondant potato-esque hashbrowns (£1.50 each) that are truly worth the trip themselves. woodkraftcheltenham.com CD CE KF