Visit Pershore for a Great Day Out
By local food blogger Pershore Patty
Having lived locally to Pershore for most of my life, I can proudly say that there’s a lot going for the Worcestershire market town; well known for its ancient Abbey, market gardening and famous plums (Look out for the famous Pershore Yellow Egg, Pershore Purple and the new Pershore Emblem). The town is largely supported by its residents, local businesses and tourists who all contribute to making Pershore a thriving place to visit.
With a variety of restaurants specialising in different cultures from around the world, Pershore’s food scene is partly what inspired me to start my food blog ‘Pershore Patty’; writing about great local places to eat. Jimmy Pickles, Thai Legends and Belle House are situated within the town itself and are amongst those luring diners from far and wide. With other culinary spots located only a few miles outside, and attracting visitors worldwide, such as Eckington Manor whose Chef Mark Stinchcombe was a recent winner of ‘BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals’.
Coffee shops and tea rooms are popular with locals in Pershore, with Coffee#1 and Sugar N’ Spice being amongst the favourite spots. Taste Buds Pershore, is a new café which opened in August, and the Deli @ Pershore will be shortly expanding their successful catering business by launching a new modern café serving freshly homemade food. For more updates on local food news and restaurant recommendations visit www.pershorepatty.com
Take a day trip out to Pershore and walk along the medieval bridge, over the River Avon or stop at the picnic area, to take in the beautiful surroundings. The river comes alive in the summer with dragon boat racing during the Riverboat Festival. Circular Walks leaflets are available at Pershore Library in Church Street for helpful ideas of where to start your adventures. Explore the indoor market and stroll along the High Street to see some of the town’s stunning Georgian architecture. Call into one of the traditional pubs for a drink (sit in the beer garden overlooking the river at The Star Inn), and browse the independent gift shops such as Persora, or pick up a designer bargain in The Smart Exchange.
Pick your visit date wisely and you could stumble across one of the three main annual events that take place in Pershore: the Pershore Carnival, the Pershore Jazz Festival and the infamous Pershore Plum Festival, bringing everyone together on the August Bank Holiday.
Concerts and events are held in and around Pershore Abbey throughout the year. One of the most notable being the Midsummer Brass Festival which takes place in July over 4 venues in Pershore, to include The Abbey, The Angel Inn Hotel, Pershore Baptist Church and Chapman Court.
‘Capability’ Brown’s first solo commission landscape, at National Trust Croome is just 3 miles outside of Pershore. Britain’s largest walled gardens are also located within the grounds at Croome, and although privately owned, they can be visited from Easter until the end of September on special days. A brand new art inspired gift shop is now open within the gardens at Croome, showcasing creative and unique art exhibitions by local artists, such as the Pershore Art’s group. There will also be outdoor sculptures, planned to be on show from next year, for visitors to view whilst exploring the historic gardens.
For an injection of culture, pop along to the Number 8 Community Arts Centre, which offers ‘a vibrant programme of film, live events and events beamed in via satellite such as ballets, operas and the National Theatre Live seasons. There are various arts and crafts workshops in the area, including; Bredon Hill Open Studios, Three Little Pigs in Birlingham, Wychavon Music Workshops and watercolour classes in Stoulton.
Whilst there is plenty to do in Pershore itself, the town is also an ideal base to visit other tourist hotspots such as The Cotswolds, The Malvern Hills and Stratford upon Avon. Road links are excellent and there is a railway station on the outskirts of town.
Visit Pershore and find out why the district of Wychavon was recently voted one of the best places to live in the UK.
Click here to read the October 2017 online issue of Worcestershire NOW