Christmas is always a bit better when you keep it local. Did you know that Canterbury has plenty of places where you can pick up locally produced goodies and treats for your Christmas table? From indulgent cheeses and fine wines to staple ingredients, do a little more of your food shop in these local businesses to help support the city and bring something special to your guests.
The Refillery in Sun Street is committed to supporting an environmentally conscious, minimal waste lifestyle. Their mission is to make planet-friendly shopping accessible to as many people as possible.
You’ll find plenty of Canterbury and Kentish produce in their gorgeous store, carefully selected for quality and sustainable credentials, including honey, peanut butter, beer and cider, apple and pear juice, cookies, eggs, oils, jams, sauerkraut, kombucha and more. Take a container or purchase one in-store and you can stock up on store cupboard and household essentials with minimal carbon footprint.
Buy just what you need by weight and volume in relaxed, friendly surroundings with easy-to-use dispensers, scales and scanners. The team is always happy to help with refilling from the pumps and dispensers if you’re new to this innovative hopping experience.
The Foundry is the home of family-run Canterbury Brewers & Distillers, a multi award-winning champion of local produce on Stour Street. The team makes their food, spirits and beer on-site from scratch where possible - and you can buy their goods to take home or to give as gifts.
They use barley and grain from the south-east, fresh Kentish green hops, wild yeast from St Augustine’s Abbey and even offer a limited edition gin made with herbs grown in the medieval garden of Canterbury Cathedral.
The Foundry is always pushing forward with new sustainable projects - they now use their spent whiskey grain to grow their own Blue Oyster and Black Pearl mushrooms, serving them up in delicious home-made fare on their menu. Head to their gorgeous Victorian Foundry building and treat yourself to a delicious drink and meal, order a tasting flight or behind the scenes tour, or pick up a selection of beers and spirits for your festive table.
Corkk the award-winning wine shop and bar in Burgate is a passionate supporter of local wines, working closely with a wide range of highly skilled, small-scale Kentish winemakers and vineyards including Chartham, Heppington in Lower Hardres, Simpsons in Barham and Cary Wine Estate in Faversham. The combination of chalky soil and warm climate creates the perfect terroir for still and sparkling white and rose wines - Taittinger, the famed Champagne House has established its first English winery, Domaine Evremond in Chilham, for this reason and you can find their wine in Corkk’s curated selection. For events including tasting evenings, pop-up suppers and live jazz nights.
corkk.co.uk
Paxton & Whitfield Canterbury’s local specialist cheese shop in Palace Street, loves tochampion Kentish and south-eastern produce, such as the award-winning Cheddar-style Winterdale Shaw, handmade with milk from cows that graze the lush, chalky North Downs; and Graceburn, a marinated soft cow’s cheese using Kentish Rapeseed Oil.
The friendly staff are passionate about their produce and very happy to advise on the best way to enjoy their cheeses with wines, charcuterie and special occasion menus. Cheesemongers since 1797 and by Royal Appointment since 1850, the artisan cheese shop also offers a wide selection of delicious accompaniments as well as stylish branded homeware.
