Mr James and I had a few hours to spare in our Saturday schedule so we decided to head south of the Thames in search of some good and tasty food. First stop was Greensmith’s in Waterloo’s Lower Marsh. Here the owners have brought together a number of independent producers under one roof. Ginger Pig are supplying the meat, The Old Post Office Bakery the bread, the on-site greengrocer is Solstice and down in the cellar The Waterloo Wine Company is hidden away in the labyrinth of stairways and vaults. We were drawn to the meat counter where we bought some Toulouse sausages and a round of oxtail chunks all neatly tied together in an almost sculptural circle. Although Spring is around the corner the Winter chill that is still in the air is making us crave a hearty stew and a bit of home cooking.

Then onto Maltby Street in SE1 which is a splinter group of traders that have broken away from the tourist burdened Borough Market and have set their own market. Some of them just have to roll up their shutters as this is a group of railway arches that houses some of London’s most interesting food and drink suppliers - many of whom supply our shops. Take a stroll and you will find the boys from Neal’s Yard Dairy spilling out onto the street. Monmouth Coffee are based here and it’s where we send our staff on training days. On Saturdays they convert this roasting house into a coffee bar serving what has to be the best coffee in London. Justin the baker at St John is based here in his brand new bakery - supplying in my opinion the tastiest Sourdough in London - if you haven’t ever tried one of their custard filled doughnuts then I strongly recommend a trip there just to savour one of these sugary delights. We bought cheese from Mons, bread from Justin, beautiful speckled eggs from Ladymeads Farm in East Sussex and some tasty oats from Hophurst Farm. My personal food hero Leila McAlister was there selling authentic cured meats and pickles from Poland from her Topolski stand, the pickled beetroot is a store cupboard essential. Other producers include Fern Verrow Bio-dynamic Farm, Mons Cheese, Booth’s Fruit and Veg and the Kernal Brewery. If you’re interested in the Artisan food producers and suppliers of London, take a trip down to Maltby Street on a Saturday morning. You’ll be in for a treat.