The Markets and Farmer Shops around Swindon and the surrounding Wiltshire, Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire area offer some of the best produce you’ll find in the south west. As well as a wide range of clothing, and other items, with plenty of choice and often bargain prices.
Here’s the Entertainment Swindon Guide to Markets & Farm Shops
So whether you’re looking for a day out at a busy market, or visit a farm shop, we’ve got you sorted.
Farm Shops can be small shops on a farm to a local produce shop in the middle of a town.
These local Markets & Farm Shops offer fresh local produce, including meat, vegetables, dairy products and gifts, cutting out the middle man and supporting local businesses, helping to build a more resilient and sustainable local food supply chain.
Swindon Farmers Market:
This bustling weekly market was short listed for Country Life magazine’s ‘Nation’s Favourite Farmers’ Market’ award in 2006. It was Highly Commended in the DEFRA, NFU and Western Daily Press ‘Marvellous Markets’ competition 2005 and nominated ‘Best New Farmers’ Market’ in the 2005 FARMA awards.
At Swindon Outlet you will find around 20 stalls each week offering freshly baked bread and cake, seasonal produce, free range meats, local cheese, jams and a range of hot foods including hot dogs, bacon rolls, burgers and falafels.
Marlborough Market:
On Saturdays and Wednesdays, the High Street hosts a market selling all kinds of stuff from locally produced meat and vegetables, to pots, plants, pashminas and pottery. A number of continental markets also descend on the town, but mainly in the summer months.
Marlborough, is found in the north east corner of Wiltshire, this archetypical English market town was voted one of ‘ The UK’s top 23 towns to live in’ according to The Times.
In 1086, Marlborough was recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Merleberge’. In later years it was a place where coins were minted, Tudor kings hunted for deer and coaches heading west from London stopped to feed and water their horses, a town at the heart of things in days gone by.
Marlborough is a lovely place to visit any time of year and the market is a vibrant place full of a great array of stalls.
Wednesdays: 9am to 4pm
Saturdays: 9am to 4pm
Hinton Marsh Farm Shop:
This award winning Farm Shop on Shrivenham high street, selling local free-range meat, refill milk, eggs, freshly baked bread as well as serving great coffee & cakes.
Hinton Marsh Farm situated at the foot of the Wiltshire Chalkdownlands, has been a family run farm since 1956, knowledge and methods of farming has been passed through the generations as far back as the 1600’s. Their traditional farming methods, with slow growing animals and poultry, combined with the commitment to the welfare of their animals and feeding their home grown cereal feed is reflected in the quality of this farm shops meat.
Hinton Marsh Farm Shop are proud of the quality and diversity of the meat they can offer you, all butchered on site by their highly skilled and dedicated butcher. The farm shop can butcher to your individual needs or you can order general pack sizes.
For more details, click HERE for the Hinton Marsh Farm Shop website.
Highworth Town Market:
Highworth is an ancient hilltop Market Town and has a population of approximately 8000 residents. In 1206 Highworth was granted a charter for its Market which is still held weekly and can be found in the Market Square on Saturday mornings 8:00am to 2:00pm where you will find a variety of stalls including fresh produce, confectionary, freshly baked cakes and breads, olives and nuts, woollen supplies, knitted garments, cards and much more.
For up to date information on the Highworth Market, click HERE.
Purton House Organic Farm Shop:
Purton House Organic Farm Shop is a local, family-run organic box scheme, delivering freshly produced fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and extras around Swindon, Cirencester and Marlborough. They also have an extensive farm shop in Purton, near Swindon, stocking a range of local produce; and supply wholesale to pubs, restaurants, shops and festivals
Purton House Organic Farm also runs regular Open Days where you can meet their cows, chickens, and pigs. Have a wander through the woodlands and check out the fertile fields and plentiful polytunnels.
For more details, click HERE for the Purton Organic Farm Shop website.
Red Down Farm Highworth Farm Shop:
The Highworth Farm Shop is located just on the outer edge of the town on the way to Swindon, located next to Red Down Bungalow, on Swindon Road, SN6 7SH.
Well known locally for its organic free range eggs and real Christmas trees, there is more to this small family run business where you will find a great range of homemade condiments and pickles including pickled spiced chillies and Dijon Mustard.
The farm shop also has a lovely cozy cafe where you can sit and enjoy a hot brew and a piece of homemade cake and other delights.
The farm shop is open Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm.
Chippenham Market:
There has been a weekly market in Chippenham since King John first granted a charter to hold one in April 1205. Later King Edward extended the privilege in 1314 so that an additional market could be held on a Saturday.
These historic twice-weekly markets, now held on Friday and Saturday, which from June 1st came under the control of Chippenham Town Council.
Casual and permanent pitches are available. Do you have a hobby and would like to sell your work? You don’t have to trade both days if you prefer only one. Are you an artisan maker or producer on a small scale and want to test the market? Come and give Chippenham a try!
If you have any ideas on what you would like to be included in the market, how we could improve the market or if you are interested in having a stall, we would love to hear from you.
Market trading times:
8:30am – 4pm Friday and Saturday
For more information contact:
Customer Services
01249 446699
enquiries@chippenham.gov.uk
Coleshill Organics:
Coleshill Organics was started on a farm at Watchfield in 1995. From an initial two acres which is now about 17 acres in total. The box scheme now operates from the walled garden in Coleshill. The fruit and veg box scheme now operates from within the walled garden in Coleshill, on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border.
The business grew out of a passion to provide local people with the highest quality fresh produce, their enthusiasm and joy for truly flavoursome “real” food is reinforced every evening when you cook what they have grown and taste the difference.
For more details, click HERE for Coleshill Organics.
Roves Farm:
Roves Farm Shop, Butchery & Café is located three miles from Swindon, on the Wiltshire/Oxfordshire border on Roves Farm itself which is a working farm with a visitors centre open all year round which offers great fun and activities and the experience to learn about animal, farming & the countryside for people of all ages, especially the kids.
Roves Farm Shop stocks fresh Roves Farm Lamb, Beef, Pork and eggs, alongside locally sourced cheeses, milk, vegetables and preserves plus lots more! The Farm produces quality, full-flavoured meat from the best animals, reared to high animal welfare standards.
At The Roves Farm Shop, you’ll find convenient refill stations offering a variety of items including milk and dry foods such as cereals, seeds, nuts, and sweets. The meats available, sourced from animals raised right at Roves Farm, adhere to eco-friendly practices. These animals are nurtured according to rigorous welfare standards, and their journey involves leaving the farm solely for slaughter before returning to the on-site butchery. This commitment translates to remarkably low food miles, minimising the environmental impact.
Roves Farm is proud to sell their very own Roves-reared beef, lamb, pork & free-range eggs alongside a wide range of other locally sourced produce. All of their meat is traditionally prepared & packed onsite in their own butchery. On the farms shelves you will find a unique range of artisan breads, cheeses, fresh fruit & vegetables, homemade cakes, pies, quiches and have an extensive range of store cupboard staple sauces, chutneys, pickled onions, jams & many more.
The farm also sells a variety of local craft beers, cider, ales, wines & spirits plus high-quality chocolate & sweet treats. Many products are also available to buy in their online shop via the farms website.
The Farms zero-waste pantry, located within the Farm Shop, enables you to shop more sustainably. Just re-use your own clean plastic containers, paper or cloth bags & jars, and fill with a range of pasta, beans, pulses, nuts, oil, fruit, grains, seeds, chocolate & even sweets.
And don’t miss the Moo Station which dispenses fresh milk, locally sourced from Berkeley Farm, which is only six miles away. Just buy a re-usable glass bottle from the Farm Shop, dispense your milk and you’re all set. Add a flavoured shot & you have a tasty milkshake to go! Alternatively, bring along your own clean containers and just pay for the milk.
The farms Woolly Sheep Café is open every day serving freshly prepared food, from brilliant breakfasts to light lunches, or a cheeky slice of homemade cake! All food is freshly prepared in their kitchen, using the farms own or local produce wherever possible. The neighbouring Takeaway Counter at the Farm Shop is the place to go for ice creams, slushies or hot & cold takeaway drinks & snacks.
Open every day, 9am – 5pm. (2nd January – 12 noon 24th December inclusive).
For more details, click HERE for the Roves Farm Shop website.
Lotmead Farm & Pick Your Own:
This farm opened to the public over 40 years ago, the farms opening times are from 9.30am until 5pm everyday, with last entry at 4.30pm (best to check website for confirmed timings).
This will sometimes, depend on the weather or if their crops are looking low, the farm may open late or close early, so to be 100% sure, just check their website.
Stop for a quick bite… The farms café serves locally made snacks and cakes, as well as great coffee, plus other hot and cold drinks, to keep you refuelled!
There’s now even more to the farms fruit themed play area to stimulate young adventurers – once you’ve helped the farmer track down the strawberry thief, come and visit his factory! This hand-crafted wooden structure provides an amazing space for pre-teenage children with varying levels of exciting physical challenges with walkways, platforms and climbing frames.
Children can still enjoy our tyre tower, swing, monkey bars, maze and a giant bee! Plus there’s lots of space for children to run around in. With our café and farm store close by, you can sit outside and relax with a tea or coffee and bite to eat whilst keeping an eye on the kids as they play.
The play area and small animals combined incur an additional entry charge. For prices, click HERE for the farms website.
Swindon Pulse Wholefood Cooperative Shop:
Swindon Pulse Wholefoods Cooperative began life in 1976 in true hippie fashion from the back of a Morris Minor van in Swindon’s old market, it was the inspired initiative of two members of Lower Shaw Farm at a time when there were no other health food outlets in Swindon.
Aims and Objectives
The most important aims and objectives of Swindon Pulse were, and still are, to promote an affordable and healthy way of living, with minimal exploitation of people, planet, and animals; and to run a business on a non-hierarchical basis with consensus decision making, empowering workers to contribute as individuals whilst learning from each other.
Within the year a cooperative of seven members was formed and short let premises were acquired near the Town Hall, and then in 1977 we moved to slightly better short let premises at 105 Curtis Street, with 9 to 5, Monday to Saturday opening hours and an increased product range, establishing ourselves as a haven for Swindon’s healthy eaters and alternative information seekers.
By 1980 membership had increased to an enthusiastic and lucky 13, products were pure, overheads and wages were low, but spirits were high. Introducing whole-foods to Swindonian’s was an uphill but rewarding struggle (still is!) and generally it was the older residents who provided more custom than the wary if groovy youngsters.
Over the next five years a core membership of 4 or 5 remained constant and a steady stream of new co-op members came and went. In 1985 Pulse received notice to quit 105 Curtis Street (so it could be demolished) and the tricky business of finding cheap rent new premises began and this proved a great strain on the co-op, membership dwindled, but loyal customers (some still shop with us!) and hardcore co-op members urged survival.
Pulse survived those dark days of Thatcherite doom and in May 1986 it reopened at 27 Curtis Street where it operates today and continues to improve and expand its services.
Eat local, act global!!
Current co-op membership stands at 4, and we are one of the oldest continually operating whole-food cooperatives in the country – in 2016 we celebrated our 40th anniversary – we are the workers, the managers, and the directors, all working part time for the national minimum wage, and all of us are totally committed to providing good healthy food for the local community and at a reasonable price.
Click HERE for Swindon Pulse Wholefoods website for more details.
Entertainment Swindon 
Leave a comment