10 Locally Sourced Restaurants and Cafes

The most exciting Leicestershire restaurants are often those whose chefs passionately showcase local ingredients. And there’s no better example than John’s House in Mountsorrel. Here, Michelin-starred cuisine is crafted with fresh ingredients from chef John Duffin’s family farm.

Having got into the locavore mood, experience the exquisite ‘Grazing Menu’ at 3 AA Rosette-awarded The Hammer & Pincers in Wymeswold, which provides consistently outstanding cooking with local ingredients. Or how about a visit to the stunning Keythorpe Hall, a 20-acre country house with a walled garden, hosting regular supper clubs that highlight home-grown fruits, vegetables, and ingredients? 
 
Next, try Fourwards Restaurant in Earl Shilton, led by MasterChef semi-finalist Stacey Ward, who loves local sourcing and gardening – her on-site greenhouses ensure some ingredients have zero food miles. 
 
For something even more chilled out, savour authentic Italian gelato at Gelato Village in Leicester, crafted using Leicestershire milk and cream. And don’t forget to try the award-winning Rustic Kitchen & Deli in Mountsorrel, which takes pride in its local sourcing, offering a unique café experience. Community-owned More Coffee in Melton Mowbray is another gem, supporting town businesses like Knapps Family Butchers and The Melton Cheeseboard. 
 
Meanwhile, pub lovers have a host of options. For example, indulge in locally sourced meats at The Sun Inn in Great Easton, where the menu features rare-breed beef, lamb, and pork from the pub’s own farm. Lastly, raise a toast at the CAMRA-award-winning The Geese & Fountain in Croxton Kerrial, which gets its beef, hogget and much of its beer from surrounding villages.