Jason Conway Take a waft down Union Street

Flow past Swan Lane to a taste of the Med – pure sunshine marinated. Then a stitch into Threadneedle Street for preloved tools, buckets and basins, clothing, and throws. To chaat, samosas and chai to die for, but your time’s not up yet. Wrap up in sheepskin and cashmere, tap wooden spoons on vintage boxes, then follow the music back up to the cross, for organic produce. Worship the blacksmith’s Soulful Iron, raise a toast to organ pipes of wine, the Artisan Baker gold brushed in thyme. Now moo at milk, kefir, and cream, smooth as silk. Then sup and snack on bitter, ale, sausages, and hot breakfast baps. Spy blooms of mushrooms and doughnuts for days of the week, bowl over to Overton eggs. 

Cruise into Cornhill, past a Coco Caravan, to apple cider vinegar, juices, and jams. A sway of flowers and plants, cheeses with tasters, Raclette and Tartiflette. Bees and trees and fresh garlic breads, a studio of pastries – 18 for 4. To game, poultry, and hand reared pork. Grab a pitstop of tea and cake at the café. Then off to dream through painted glass, zing with probiotics, sniff Crump’s fermented fancies. Continue on, for a spread of ghee and fayres from Stroud Brewery, Hobbs House Bakery and Pompidou Pies. Drift past a kelp forest of salad and samphire, to scotch eggs, black pudding, bacon, and mince. And further, to South Asian savouries, pickles, chutneys, beakers, bowls, and salt pigs. Go, bathe in soap and oil to soothe joints, dance on a rooftop of cheese tiles, skip on hot peppers from the Smokehouse, savour salami, pancetta. Pass gluten free cakes, curries, and rolls, to a cornfield of beeswax candles. 

Go back out of the square for more union wares with organic veg, mouthwatering Portuguese tarts, the Arts and Crafts Market, the pet food deli, played on by violin and accordion buskers. Then down to Thai food, falafel, and baked goods to close. This sea of banter and warmth, around islands of tables, is full of every colour and flavour. And when all’s done and said—

Remember, remember, this town breaking bread.