Artisan Food Producers in the North East we Love
The North East is home to some fantastic artisan producers and we've picked out some of our favourites, old and new
Meat Salt Smoke
Meat Salt Smoke is the charcuterie side of Heaton’s famous butchers Block & Bottle, where the expert team cure and hang their delicious cured meats and salamis. Fermented for 24 to 48 hours then hung to dry for six to eight weeks ensuring the perfect balance of flavour and texture, shop the core range of award-winning chilli and fennel soppressata, spicy spreadable nduja and peppercorn and fennel Sichuan salami. You’ll also find smoked and cured whole cuts including pancetta, coppa ham and more online and in the Heaton store.
188 Heaton Road, Newcastle NE6 5HP
0191 265 7955
blocknbottle.com/meatsaltsmoke
Ridley’s Fish and Game
A specialist supplier of fresh local fish and seafood, as well as poultry and wild local game, this family-run business has been selling quality produce since 1991. As well as their outlet shop in Acomb, you’ll also find the team at local food markets across the region. Don’t miss their delicious homemade dishes too, such as award-winning pies and terrines which have all been cooked to their own recipe and perfected over three decades, using the best local ingredients.
Unit 15, Acomb Industrial Estate, Acomb, near Hexham NE46 4SA
01434 609246
ridleysfishandgame.co.uk
Spurreli
In the seaside town of Amble, Spurreli’s boutique ice cream parlour and coffee shop serves award-winning, hand-crafted Northumbrian dairy ice cream and sorbet. Using milk and cream from the pedigree herd of Ayrshire and Short Horn cows at Marley Cote Walls Farm near Hexham, the parlour has all the flavours you can imagine – and some entirely unique ones too. Think chocolate orange, rhubarb crumble, banana caramel, and cookies and cream. They also produce vegan, dairy- and gluten-free ice cream so there is something for everyone.
The Old Chandlery, Coquet Street, Amble NE65 0DJ
01665 710890
spurreli.com
Northumberland Cheese Company
Since 1984 Mark Robertson has been making farmhouse cheeses in the heart of Northumberland. Marrying together traditional cheese making craftsmanship with modern best practices, there is now a core range of cheese made using cow, sheep and goat’s milk. Visit the cheese shop and tea room above the working dairy to shop everything from oak-smoked and nettle cows’ cheese to Elsdon goats’ and Redesdale sheep’s cheese.
The Cheese Farm, Green Lane, Blagdon NE13 6BZ
01670 789798
northumberlandcheese.co.uk
Proven Goods
After making a name for themselves at the Quayside Market, Proven Goods have become the go-to bakery for traditional hand-rolled and slow-proved doughnuts. With a monthly changing seasonal menu, expect to find blood orange pavlova, caramel popcorn and the classic ‘Homer’ glazed ring, plus plenty of cookies and gluten-free brownies. Visit the shop in Hoults Yard or one of the many cafés and coffee shops regionwide which stock their tasty treats.
Unit 1 Maling Court, Hoults Yard, Walker Road, Newcastle NE6 2HL
provengoods.co
North Acomb Farm Shop
North Acomb Farm Shop began in 1978 selling surplus eggs from their free-range hens before customers started requesting their own-produced milk and cream. The requests kept coming and now the team rear and produce their own lamb, sausage, pork and Aberdeen Angus beef. You’ll also find homemade cakes, pies and pasties, as well as black pudding and Scotch eggs in the farm shop near Stocksfield.
Stocksfield NE43 7UF
01661 843181
northacombfarmshop.co.uk
Morwick Dairy
Marking their 20th anniversary this year, Morwick Dairy is a family farm based near Warkworth, where they make delicious award-winning ice cream. Using fresh milk from the Morwick herd, milked less than 30 metres away, alongside Italian-based recipes, all the ice cream is made in small batches. Visit the parlour to enjoy classic flavours, as well as quirky scoops such as Earl Grey, avocado or liquorice ice cream. With 16 regularly changing flavours to choose from and more than 200 flavours created to date, there’s plenty of choice.
Acklington, Morpeth NE65 9DG
01665 711210
morwickdairy.co.uk
L.Robson & Sons
A trip along the Northumberland coast is not complete without a stop at Craster to pick up some famous oak-smoked Craster kippers. For more than 100 years this family business (which is now in its fourth generation) has been traditionally smoking herrings, taking 12 to 16 hours to turn them their beautiful golden-brown colour. The scent of wood smoke will draw you towards their courtyard where you’ll find the traditional smokehouses and the shop. Here you can buy fresh, locally-caught fish, smoked salmon, fishcakes and, of course, kippers.
Haven Hill, Craster NE66 3TR
01665 576223
kipper.co.uk
Burtree Puddings
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
This multi-award winning family business are famous for creating delicious handmade puddings and cakes in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients from their farmhouse kitchen in Darlington. Guaranteeing an all-round, genuine flavour that can impress even the most discerning of dessert connoisseurs, shop everything from classic golden syrup to orange marmalade, gluten-free sticky toffee and fluffy ginger pudding on their website and at local markets regionwide.
01325 463521
burtreepuddings.co.uk
Doddington Dairy
The Maxwell family have been dairy farmers at Doddington in Northumberland for more than 50 years and during the early 1990s began using raw milk to diversify into a specialist cheese business. Now Doddington Dairy create award-winning buttery blue and traditional gouda cheese, as well as delicious ice cream in special flavours including double ginger, real strawberry and Belgian chocolate. Shop online, at stockists regionwide or visit the Doddington Dairy Milk Bar to sample the ice cream first hand.
11 South Road, Wooler NE71 6QE
01668 282357
doddingtondairy.co.uk
The Travelling Bee Co.
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
Happy bees make the best honey and that’s why the busy bees at The Travelling Bee Co. are bundled into bee-mobiles and taken across the North East and Scotland to apiaries, giving them access to the wildest variety of flowers and trees every season. Shop the award-winning range online or find the team at farmers’ markets across the region. Look out for the Wild Flower Honey harvested in the wilds of Northumberland – it’s delicious!
travellingbee.co.uk
Bakerman Bakery
The team at Darlington’s not-for-profit, community bakery, Bakerman, specialise in creating delicious sourdough breads. You’ll find unusual loaves such as parmesan and black pepper sourdough (which was crowned Britain’s Best Loaf last year), as well as tumeric, red onion and Nigella seed and cheddar and Marmite loaves. Don’t miss their pastries and sweet treats either, but make sure to get to the bakery early as they fly off the shelves.
9 Clark’s Yard, Darlington DL3 7QH
01325 787010
bakerman.co.uk
Northumbrian Pantry
Inspired by owner Alice’s travels and her upbringing in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, Northumbrian Pantry produce delicious jams, jellies, chutneys and relishes. All the preserves are made by hand in small batches, using time-honoured traditional methods. Found at stockists regionwide, expect the likes of chilli relish, blackcurrant jam with juniper, spiced apricot and orange chutney and classic raspberry jam.
Stewards House, Simonburn, Hexham NE48 3AJ
01434 681118
northumbrianpantry.com
Teesdale Cheesemakers
This multi award-winning family-run business creates delicious cheese using traditional methods and milk from their farm in the heart of Teesdale. Specialising in soft and semi-soft crumbly cheese, including their creamy White Hilton and mellow Teesdale Goat, the team here are big on quality and flavour. Shop online, visit Cheesedale café or try your hand at making your own cheese led by their team of experts.
Pond Farm, 11 Copley Lane, Butterknowle DL13 5LW
07887 676397
teesdalecheesemakers.co.uk
Geordie Bangers
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
Inspired by traditional Geordie cooking and family recipes which have been passed down through generations, Geordie Bangers reference local flavours such as Brown Ale in their tasty pork sausages. As well as speciality sausages such as pork with black pudding, tomato, garlic and chilli peppers, and pork with crushed jalapeños, you’ll find fresh sausage rolls, burgers and cured bacon on their website and at local food markets across the North East.
0191 447 5600
geordiebangercompany.co.uk
Bread & Roses
Baking with real flair and precision, Alnwick-based Bread & Roses specialise in artisan, authentic and naturally-leavened breads. Committed to using local ingredients where possible, their range includes rye sourdoughs, wheat-free Moscow bread and black pumpernickel loaves. Find the team selling their goods online, at specialist shops and local farmers’ markets across the North East – and be sure to look out for the Borodinsky loaf, known as the prince of breads, for something a little different.
01665 603054
breadandroses.co.uk
Calder’s Kitchen
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
Husband and wife team Andrew and Anne-Marie founded Calder’s Kitchen after finding Andrew’s late-grandfather Charlie’s original piccalilli recipe. Now they create a range of award-winning piccalilli, including chillililli which has a delicious yet subtle sweet chilli glow, as well as fiery habanero and beetroot chutney which pairs perfectly with a cheese or corned beef sandwich. Find their products at stockists regionwide.
calderskitchen.co.uk
Kitty’s Homemade Ginger Wine
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
A modern twist on an old classic, this non-alcoholic ginger wine delivers a sophisticated and refreshing taste with an immediacy of fresh ginger, citrus and Eastern spices. Perfect served hot or cold, Kitty’s Ginger Wine is created from an authentic family recipe using root ginger and natural ingredients. Shop online or find the range at stockists regionwide.
kittysgingerwine.co.uk
North Chocolates
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
Specialising in seasonal, small batch, award-winning gourmet chocolate, this North East company has built a reputation for making deliciously indulgent chocolate bars. Unlike other chocolate bars, North Chocolates come in unique flavours such as liquorice and blackcurrant, popping candy, ruby rhubarb and chilli and lime – plus they create vegan and oat milk bars too. Our favourite has to be the Icon and Innovation range which celebrates North East heritage – think Earl Grey tea, smoked salt and citrus flavour. Stockists regionwide.
0789 685 9445
northchocolates.co.uk
Fat Lass Preserves
See them at Living North LIVE 19th – 21st May 2023
Creating award-winning artisan preserves with a modern twist, Fat Lass Preserves are renowned throughout the North East for quirky yet delicious flavours. All the preserves are cooked in small batches using only the best seasonal produce and British vinegars to enhance the natural flavours. We recommend the Gin Cocktail Marmalade which can be used in cocktails or at breakfast – for something more traditional, the Strawberry and Lavender Jam is our winner. Stockists regionwide.
fatlasspreserves.co.uk
Seabanks Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil
Award-winning British artisan rapeseed oil made in small batches on farms on the Northumberland coast, Seabanks Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil is a bright saffron yellow and has notes of light green peas. The oils can be found at stockists regionwide and we recommend looking out for their lemon oil, which is perfect drizzled over chicken, fish, pasta and summer salads.
Buston Barns, Warkworth NE65 0XX
07900 167399
seabanks.co.uk
Latimers Seafood
A longstanding award-winning seafood deli with a spectacular display of fresh fish, shellfish and smoked seafood, you’ll find the freshest catch here. Their stock at the deli changes daily depending on what the boats bring in, but you can order lobster, crab, mussels and oysters online, as well as impressive seafood platters. And if you’re not sure what to buy, visit the team in the deli who are on hand to give you expert advice.
Shell Hill, Bents Road, Whitburn SR6 7NT
0191 529 2200
latimers.com
Lindisfarne Oysters
Established in 1989, Lindisfarne Oysters are available all year round and are found in some of the finest restaurants across the country. They begin life in a hatchery until they’re about the size of a thumbnail, when they’re transferred to oyster beds off the shores of Lindisfarne. It can then take up to four years for the oysters to be ready before they’re plucked from the sea carefully packed into chilled boxes and delivered straight to your door.
01668 213870
lindisfarneoysters.co.uk
Particularly Good Potatoes
Providing the North East with freshly peeled and chipped potatoes grown on their Northumberland and Scottish Borders farms, Particularly Good Potatoes are renowned for their delicious spuds. The Robson family have been growing potatoes for more than 90 years and the trade has been passed down through the generations. Based on Turvelaws Farm in Wooler, the team grow sustainably and have a zero-waste policy – no wonder they caught the attention of The Hairy Bikers. Shop the range of potatoes, chips, fondants and roasties on their website and find their produce served at restaurants regionwide.
Turvelaws Farm, Wooler NE71 6AJ
01668 281090
particularlygood.co.uk
