Market manager Kardien Gerbrands – aka Gerb – talks about what’s going on at Swindon’s farmers’ markets

No-one can deny that on a cold winter’s night there is little better than tucking into a hot oven baked pie; a classic British dinner; with a heap of mash and some purple sprouting.

Most farmers markets will have a decent pie stall, preferably a local one, that uses magnificent local ingredients in their pies.

At the outlet on a Sunday there are pies from Lovett Pies, a gourmet pie specialist with a tantalising range of flavours; chicken, gammon and leek with a thyme pastry! Mmm!

Wild venison haggis and redcurrant! Lamb, rosemary and garlic potato and honey and many more. The Old Farmhouse Bakery also has a range of pies including fruit pies. We are still on the hunt for a Swindon-based pie business that uses local ingredients for the Havelock square market.

Of course one really should make one’s own pies and if that is your preference then why not put some locally reared free range stewing steak, pork loin or chicken breast in them, and perhaps some locally reared vegetables such as parsnips, leeks, carrots and onions, by popping down to the Outlet on Sunday between 10am and 4pm. Pietastic!

  • Bradford on Avon, third Thursday, 9am to 1pm at Westbury Gardens, BA15 1DE
  • Bradford on Avon, last Sunday, 10.30am to 2.30pm at Lamb Yard, BA15 1FG
  • Calne, second Saturday, 9am to 1pm, near the library, SN11 0JU
  • Corsham, third Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street, SN13 0HB
  • Devizes, first Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Market Place
  • Malmesbury, second and fourth Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, Market Cross
  • Royal Wootton Bassett, fourth Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street
  • Salisbury, weekly on Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm, Poultry Cross
  • Swindon Farmers Market, every Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Road, SN2 2DY
  • Havelock Square Farmers’ Market, Swindon, every Thursday from 9am until 2.30pm.
  • Trowbridge, second and fourth Friday, 9am to 1pm, Fore Street, BA14 8HX
  • Wanborough, third Saturday of the month, 9am to midday, Wanborough Village Hall
  • Warminster, first and third Fridays, 9am to 1pm, Central car park, BA12 9BT