Dozens of people enjoyed a beer festival in south Oxfordshire at the weekend. LoveBeer hosted its first event of the year with its Apres-Ski Beer Festival in Abingdon. The festival took place on Saturday, February 1, providing a celebration at the end of January. The festival not only offered a variety of beers but also embraced the Apres-Ski atmosphere, serving the alpine classic Aperol Spritz. LoveBeer Brewery said: "We don't normally run festivals until the weather starts to warm up, but we thought we'd give you something to celebrate at the end of a cold and dry January."
Established in 2014 and based in Milton, LoveBeer mainly brews cask ales for the pub trade. Founded by Jim Southey, the brewery has a capacity of 2,000 litres per week and only uses traditional ingredients, with occasional special beers featuring additional flavours. The brewery's ales are on tap at pubs across Abingdon, Hagbourne, Oxford, Didcot, Milton, and beyond.
Meanwhile, highlighting local excellence, Millets Farm Centre near Abingdon has been named as a finalist for two prestigious national awards at the Farm Retail Association Awards. Specifically, the farm shop is up for both the Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year and Farm Shop Butchery of the Year awards. This family-run business, managed by the Carter family since 1952, spans over 500 acres and focuses on fruit and vegetable farming.
Over three generations, Millets Farm has evolved from its origins as a dairy farm to become a multi-attraction site. The awards ceremony for the Farm Retail Association will take place on Wednesday, March 12, in Birmingham, showcasing the significant work being done across the country to promote and support local food. Lucinda la Velle, director of Millets, expressed her pride at their achievements, remarking, "Being finalists for Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year for a second year in a row is great recognition for our wonderful team and all their hard work."
La Velle emphasized the efforts of their chefs who produce meals made from homemade, homegrown, and locally sourced ingredients. She acknowledged the importance of their front-of-house team, stating, "They are at the heart of making sure everything we do at Millets Farm is the best in our field." Millets is also nominated again for the Farm Shop Butchery of the Year award. La Velle added, "To also be nominated for Farm Shop Butchery of the Year for a second year in a row is truly amazing." Though they do not have their own livestock, the team of experienced butchers sources high-welfare meat from local farms, coupling this with traditional butchery techniques to offer unique products.
Emma Mosey, chair of the Farm Retail Association, shared her enthusiasm by stating, "It’s wonderful to shine a light and celebrate our farm shops and farmers' markets which are often independent, family-run businesses at the heart of communities." She highlighted the importance of the sector as "an important bridge between field and fork, sourcing fresh and nutritious produce with low food miles, from passionate and knowledgeable retailers. Congratulations to everyone who is shortlisted and good luck. This is your time to shine, and we are looking forward to celebrating your achievements in March at our grand awards ceremony."
These local events reflect not just the dedication of individuals and teams working at LoveBeer and Millets Farm, but also the sense of community and celebration around local businesses contributing to the region's vibrancy.