Speciality Food September 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com and through. And we mean that. The impressive ‘wavy fronted’ building houses probably every product made in the county. Beer and spirits from the area (including Bowland Brewery and Bowland Distillery), Lancashire Tea, Lancashire Crisps, Lancashire Parkin. That thread of ‘local’ weaves its way through every part of the business, though other speciality foods from around get their own area too. And there’s a butchery, and deli counter absolutely packed with cheeses (some local ones of course), curedmeats, sausages rolls, pies andmore. Homemade fare is par for the course in the onsite cafe, where you can dive into homemade soups, salads, buddha bowls, sandwiches and hot main dishes, with a Lancashire steer wherever they can squeeze it in. VALVONA & CROLLA EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND The oldest deli/food hall in Scotland, and certainly one of the oldest in Britain. There’s 90 years of heritage here, and the Italian family behind the business are thrilled it holds a Royal Warrant as a cheese supplier to King Charles III. So much effort goes into making the shelves sing at Valvona & Crolla, working with Italian artisans and small producers to bring an authentic taste of the country to Scotland’s capital. It’s unlikely you’ll seemuch of what they have anywhere else – certainly not in your local supermarket! A star turn is the deli counter. An absolute celebration of Italian cheeses (look out for the stunning goats’ cheese rolled in flowers) and charcuterie. Fresh fruit and vegetables are sourced frommarkets inMilan every week. The onsite bakery crafts all the food hall’s bread and pastries. And stock up on fresh and dried pasta, antipasti (artichoke cream, pesto, olives andmore), wines and sprits, coffee, chocolates, sweets and kitchenalia. There’s a nod to Scotland too, with several local products to choose from. Regular visitors will knowValvona & Crolla’s cafe and restaurant is considered one of the best places to eat in Edinburgh – winning Italian Restaurant of the Year in the 2024 Scottish Restaurant Awards. The casual (but chic) eatery caters to all appetites, whether you’re after a few nibbles (arancini, Parmesan with poppy seed crisps), or something heartier like cotechino with olive oil mash, lentils andmustard fruits, or pizza. FORTNUM & MASON, LONDON Trundling home with an eggshell blue parcel tucked under your arm is considered the last word in luxury. The food hall – colloquially simply known as ‘Fortnums’ - is somewhere foodies like to be seen. But it’s not all smoke andmirrors. There’s a reason this institution has endured since the early 1700s – it’s really rather good. When you shop here, you can be assured you’re buying the creme de la creme. What sets Fortnums apart is its entwining of tradition and playfuless. Everything looks effortlessly artful, and the designers, buyers andmerchandisers ensure they create buying experiences and displays that spark conversations and strike curiosity – they aren’t afraid to be playful and have fun! Case in point is last year’s collaboration with tongue-in-cheek American-style Leeds-based bakery, Get Baked, or the brand’s own quirky products such as its wonderful Toffolossus biscuits. Where do we start otherwise? There’s oodles to explore. Beef Wellingtons and salt-aged beef joints for the ultimate Sunday roast. Amazing cheeses, including Fortnums’ own showstopping jars of potted varieties such as Truffle & Honey, or Rarebit (Yorkshire bacon, West Country Cheddar, ale andmustard). The finest tea cakes you’ve ever seen in your life. Cutesy chocolate animals in tiny boxes. Fortnum’s strength is in the values behind its own-label products. No stone is left unturned in seeking out the very very finest makers. Oh – and while you’re there, buy a Scotch egg (they claim to be the inventor of the snakc in the mid- 1700s). And head to The Parlour – home of the original knickerbocker glory – to sample the OG version, to construct your own sundae from a flurry of ice creamflavours, sauces and toppings, or to try a Champagne float or red velvet soft serve. PARTRIDGES, LONDON The Shepherd family have been purveying great food for 50 years, holding a Royal Warrant as a grocer for 31 of them. The food hall has many feathers to its cap. It leans into the tradition and creature comforts we all crave right now, places value on outstanding customer service, is recognised for its sustainability, and champions the next generation of producers which it names its ‘Startisans’. It’s the kind of place that draws you in closer once you’ve picked up the itemyou actually went in for. Youmight be distracted by a wall of preserved fish in their striking tins, by some of the weird and wonderful creations fromAmerica, by newcomers (such as Diana’s Chocolate made in London) and by unusual things you’ve never seen before – Hasting’s Lemon Ketchup, maybe, or jars of sundried white figs. Partridges offers its own lines as well – fromPear & Elderflowe Jam, to Honey & Lavendar Butter Biscuits, Green Pepper Mustard, and Chelsea Flower Gin. This homage to the borough was designed with acclaimed distiller MartinMurray, expressing the essence of Chelsea in bloomusing 19 botanicals, with a subtle hint of rose. SNAPE MALTINGS FOOD HALL SNAPE, SUFFOLK A skip and a hop from the chic seaside resort of Aldeburgh (renowned for its restaurants, cafes and famous fish and chips) Snape Maltings is a daytrippers dream. Not only does it house the world- famous concert hall, but on the site are antiques, gift and art shops, a huge home and lifestyle hall, a cafe, restaurant and deli. Sculptures by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth accent the grounds, fromwhere you can take a boat trip upriver, or head out on a walk across the marshlands. It’s also home to the annual Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival. The Food Hall is cleverly laid out with floor-to-ceiling shelving and almost eye-level displays, so your gaze is always captured by something tantalising (no matter how tall you are). There’s an extensive range of spirits, beers, wines and ciders. Row upon row of pasta, rice and risotto. Cooking sauces, marinades and dips from across the world. Confectionery. And snacks of distinction. Look out for local brands including Edwards Cocktails and Pump Street chocolate. Being ambient only, it perfectly complements the deli next door, where there’s an evenmore prevalent array of Suffolk and British ingredients and products.