With much of the region carpeted in farmland, it’s no surprise that that food plays a huge part of life in the Cotswolds. Meat, crops, fruit and vegetables, and fish like Bibury trout feature heavily on menus in the area’s top pubs and restaurants. Provenance is important here: we like to know where our food comes from, and the fewer miles it has to travel before it reaches our plates, the better.

I’m really interested in regenerative farming methods, as I’ve grown up around the seasonal work of the farm. I love that I can buy flour for my home cooking from Shipton Mill in Stroud, which sells regenerative organic flours from traditional and heritage grains harvested within 30 miles of the mill.

Daylesford needs no introduction, but there are smaller establishments that perhaps have a closer relationship with the land. The family-run Organic Farm Shop to the east of Cirencester is one such place. As well as selling their own meat, eggs, honey, bread and dairy products they also have a fantastic café and a standout Sunday lunch. They make their own salads too, and we always have a bottle of their homemade salad dressing in the kitchen. Similarly, Jolly Nice near Stroud is a lovely place to spend a few hours; formerly a petrol station, it now supports local farmers, artisans and producers in its farm shop and café. You could go to Diddly Squat (and queue for hours!) or go to Upton Smokery, just outside Burford, which smokes its own game, fish and meat.

Speaking of Jeremy Clarkson, however you feel about him, he has certainly done a lot to bring awareness to the difficulties farmers face. The farm shop might be a touch overrated but the pub (when you can get a table!) is quite lovely and supports a range of local farmers. There are many fantastic, locally owned and operated pubs where you can sample the region’s best produce with absolutely no crowds however, and for that I’d recommend heading a little off the beaten track.

The Stump Pub is on the Fosse Way and does incredible pizzas, while the New Inn at Coln (run by the same people) does great burgers in a beautiful little village. A personal favourite is the Bell at Sapperton, tucked away behind Cirencester Park. They have a hitching post, so I can ride my horse there via the park and tie up while I have a drink. In Northleach, The Wheatsheaf is quite special. We took over the pub the night before our wedding and had a great time – top marks for the cheese souffle which has been on the menu for years. It’s a hardly a secret, but Dunkertons Park on the Charlton Kings side of Cheltenham is a fun day (or night) out. The concept is based around a variety of ‘food truck’-style establishments where you can get Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Indian, French patisserie… the list goes on. There’s also a Daylesford outpost and a great pub area where they serve Dunkertons cider. It’s a fun spot to enjoy a drink or a concert, and perhaps spend a great deal of money in the Holland Cooper shop next door, if you want to look the part while you’re visiting.