News and Features
The Wonders of Wellington
Nestling under the Blackdown Hills near the Devon border, Wellington is an attractive county town of 14,000 people. The traditional high street boasts a wide range of independent stores and food experiences! If that’s not enough, a new Waitrose opened in January giving another reason to visit this charming town. . The Town and its history The Duke of Wellington took his name from the town when looking for a name which was similar to his family name of Wellesley. The 175 ft high monument above the town built in his honour was completed in 1892. Famous industries in the town include textile producers Fox Brothers recently acquired by Deborah Meaden of Dragon’s Den fame ; Relyon beds and Aerosols International. Wellington School founded in 1837 plays an important role in the town – well known alumni include Jeffrey Archer, and Poirot actor David Suchet. Keith Floyd, the celebrity chef, was a pupil and revisited the school as part of his “Floyd on Food” TV series. (see our tribute to Keith Floyd). Wellington Museum in Fore Street offers a warm welcome to visitors and gives a history of the town and its famous people and companies. It is open daily from Easter to the end of September, and on Saturdays in the Autumn. In the autumn the town hosts one of the famous Somerset carnival parades whose origins date back more than 400 years.
Food With the arrival of a new Waitrose store causing excitement for miles around we thought it was a good chance to look at what else food lovers could enjoy on a visit to Wellington.....
Waitrose Waitrose opened their Wellington store at the end of January at the top of the High Street. Traders in the town have raised some concerns about the store’s arrival but Waitrose Regional Branch Manager Mark Shepherd sees it as a great opportunity for local traders, “people often travel 40 or 50 miles to our stores so we expect to bring new people to the town – we are also happy to work with local groups to promote the town.” Parking at the store is free for two hours allowing ample time for a sortie down the High Street. Shepherd says that the store is seeking quality local producers to supply them – Sheppy’s cider from nearby Bradford-on-Tone is already on the shelves. Ready, Bready, Dough – Artisan Breadmaker Open just a few weeks but already causing a stir. Artisan baker Stefan aims to make bread “like it used to be”. Bread and cakes are baked on the premises in the old fashioned way using local ingredients where possible. Stefan is delighted that his bread is appealing to a wide range of customers “from teenagers to 90 year olds.” One young mum recommended his Somerset brie, bacon & spring onion loaf - “delicious” she said! The Chocolate Box – Continental Cafe Go through the door of the Chocolate Box and you enter a different world where you could be in a chic cafe in central Europe! The cafe offers continental style and delicious tastes in the heart of down town Wellington! To drink why not try one of owner Martina Brodie’s delicious range of 17 varieties of hot chocolate with flavours like wild cherry and nutmeg? Try to resist one of her delicious home-made cakes with locally sourced organic ingredients or if feeling particularly naughty treat yourself to some Belgian truffles. Sunseed - organic produce and wholefood shop For more than more 30 years Sunseed has served the folks of Wellington and beyond for all their needs for health food and specialist ingredients. The shop is an Aladdin’s cave of organic and fair trade produce “We try to supply things that are as unrefined as possible and can cater for all sorts of dietary needs such as gluten free and sugar free products” says shop manager Stacey Faulkner. Specialities include local organic fruit and veg; seeds and spices sold loose; dairy free ice cream and locally made wholemeal bread. It’s all here from oriental spices and seaweed through to local fruit juices and honeys. The Cheese and Wine shop – delicatessen Run by Paul de Ruyters and his wife Clare, Wellington’s Cheese and Wine Shop – offers just what it says on the tin – plus much, much more. Paul, previously a Michelin starred chef, remains passionate about good food and wine. “We strive to use good local producers where we can, complemented by the best from across the globe” he explained. Paul is happy to offer recipe suggestions and recommendations of foods and wines that go well together. The Larder Opposite the town’s museum in Fore Street is a small speciality food shop called The Larder – selling a wide range of local produce. “People love our free range local chickens and ham carved off the bone” says shop manager Denise, serving a steady stream of customers most of whom she knows by name. Local meats and sausages come from Wallaces and Little Turberfield; cheddar cheese from Maryland Farmhouse and smoked fish from Bridfish Smokery in Bridport. Flavours Restaurant Wellington’s newest restaurant is living up to its name and offering a first class dining experience with fresh seasonal food sourced locally – fresh fish from Plymouth and local meat from butcher Tim Potter in the town. There is something to suit all tastes – at lunchtime why not try 2 courses for £10, the fishcakes were delicious and the liver divine! New Canton – innovative finest Chinese cuisine These days even small towns are blessed with a selection of ethnic eating places and takeaways. Few though can boast a restaurant of the quality of the New Canton Restaurant in Wellington’s South Street. Renowned locally and further afield for the high quality of its food and excellent service, owner May Tseng puts this down to good fresh ingredients and attention to every aspect of detail!
Tim Potter, Son and Daughter – traditional family butcher Prize for the busiest shop in town on the day I visited must go to Tim Potter’s Family Butchers – with queues 3 or 4 deep – every time I passed the shop. Eventually I grabbed a few minutes with son Chris Potter – who gave his explanation for their popularity –“all our meat is locally sourced mostly from within a few miles of the shop from farms we know well.” The butchers have won prizes for their sausages and bacon, and provide a range of prepared meats too. Mary Jenkins – fruit and veg Wellington boasts a lovely, traditional greengrocers so sadly lacking in many high streets these days. For sheer variety of fruit and veg beautifully displayed Mary’s shop is well worth a visit.
Wellington Farmers Market Wellington Farmers Market is held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9am – 1pm. Venue is the Scout Hall, Fore Street, Wellington. A range of local producers are represented including Coates who provide local lamb, beef and pork; Sweetlands for pies and quiches and Jason Wise for organic chickens; other produce includes eggs; goats cheese, vegetables and plants.
Wellington Food Town and Food Festival The last four years has seen a summer food festival under the banner of Wellington Food and there are plans to hold a further one in 2010. According to sponsorship manager Melanie Timmins “The festival aims to promote Wellington as an ambassador for food producers in Somerset as well as contribute to the sustainability and growth of local businesses in and around the Wellington area.” A date has yet to be set for this year’s event, sign up for our e-newsletter on the homepage of www.somersetfood.org and we’ll let you know when it is as soon as we know. Out of town Bell and Birdtable – Runnington
Links More information about the town can be found at
Wellington Weekly News http://www.wellington-today.co.uk/tn/index.cfm
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