Buy what you love off someone who loves it too.

I’ve been banging the drum of ‘buy what you love off someone who loves it too’ for ages but with the annual crescendo of consumerism on our doorstep and another year of chaos behind us, it felt right to bring the drum out again.

My theory is born out of working with fantastic producers, makers, growers, artists, curators, and hospitality heroes who love their craft and pour every bit of their passion into it. They all care deeply about their skill or their art and, for me, these are the folks I want to be getting things from. I wish I could buy off them all the time and if you can, you totally should, but I’m a realist and I don’t think it’s right to criticise the convenience of big brands. Too many ‘buy local’ schemes come over as evangelical and I think that’s the wrong approach. I just want people to focus on what they love and buy it off someone who loves it too. Obviously, I want you all to buy Paso and share my passion for wine but whatever it is you love, if you can get it direct off someone who can talk to you about that product, that genre or that style, you never know where that interaction will take you. You might discover something completely new and amazing and if you don’t, you might open up the conversation that helps someone else start their journey. I honestly believe it’s a small, achievable step that will make your world seem so much brighter no matter where your passion lies. If you spend your evenings listening to music, buy the next album at an indie record store. If you love cheese find the cheesemonger or the cheesemaker you love and use their knowledge to separate the curds from the whey. If you love coffee don’t settle for second rate beans, if you love gin find the gin that sings for you and if you love reading then support the author and the local bookshop at the same time. Your passion is not a solo endeavour, share it with the other people who populate that world, and it will ensure whatever it is, is still there in 2023 and beyond. Who knows, they might take things even further and off your support be able to launch new products (*ahem* Pasotismo Blanco) and provide a sanctuary for future enthusiasts keeping that thing you love alive for even longer.

The plan is for the last section of this page is to create a directory of my friends, favourite producers, venues, and anyone I think shares my ethos. I’m going to split it across four categories: Producers, Creators, Curators and Proprietors. It will be by no means exhaustive or in any particular order. It will simply offer a bit of back up to the ‘buy what you love…’ sentiment and give you a starting point for some Christmas ideas. Hopefully you’ll find some new products that will be part of your homelife for years to come but whatever happens, I hope it will help support some people who have poured everything they’ve got into the thing they love. I know how hard it is to follow your passion and how rewarding it is when you find someone who loves it too.

THE PASO-PRIMERO DIRECTORY OF PRODUCERS, CREATORS, CURATORS and PROPRIETORS.

This is a directory of my friends, favourite producers, creatives, venues, and anyone I think shares my ethos and adds value to their part of the world. It’s across four categories: Producers, Creators, Curators and Proprietors and is by no means exhaustive or in any particular order. It simply offers a bit of back up to the ‘buy what you love…’ sentiment and gives you a starting point for some Christmas ideas. Hopefully you’ll find some new products that will be part of your home-life for years to come but whatever happens, I hope it will help support people who have poured everything they’ve got into the thing they love. I know how hard it is to follow your passion and how rewarding it is when you find someone who loves it too.

Producers.

Shropshire Salumi. Artisan salumi made using the finest, ethically sourced local ingredients.

Instagram : @shropshiresalumi. Website : www.shropshire-salumi.co.uk

Three Legs Brewing Company. Independently owned and operated Brewery and Taproom, established in 2015.

Instagram : @thethreelegs. Website : www.thethreelegs.co.uk/

Moyden’s Hand Made Cheese. Award winning artisan cheeses inspired by Shropshire.

Instagram : @moydenscheese. Website : www.moydendcheese.co.uk

Appleby’s Cheese. Artisanal dairy products from an internationally renowned farm in north Shropshire.

Instagram : @applebyscheese. Website : www.applebyscheese.co.uk

Strawberry Fields Farm. Only selling what they farm themselves, Strawberry Fields offer award-winning meat from the finest heritage breeds.

Instagram : @strawberry_fields_farm. Website : www.facebook.com/Strawberryf1elds/

Toot Sweet Chocolates. Multi award winning chocolatier.

Instagram : @tootsweetshrew. Website : www.tootsweetchocolates.co.uk

Bennett and Dunn. 100% Natural cold pressed artisan rapeseed oil. Grown, pressed and bottled in Shropshire.

Instagram @bennett_dunn. Website : www.bennettanddunn.co.uk

Hobson’s Brewery. Award winning, sustainable brewery in Shropshire.

Instagram : @hobsonsbrewery. Website : www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk/

Henstone Distillery. Whisky, gin, apple brandy, bourbon (equivalent) and vodka from Oswestry.

Instagram : @henstone_distillery. Website : www.henstonedistillery.com

Ludlow Dry Gin. Handcrafted, copper distilled, multi award-winning gins, spirits and liqueurs made in the heart of the Welsh Marshes.

Instagram : @ludlowdrygin. Website : www.wardingtons.co.uk

Ludlow Brewery. Award winning beers from the heart of Ludlow.

Instagram : @ludlowbrewery. Website : www.theludlowbrewingcompany.co.uk

The Shropshire Distillery. Award-winning handcrafted spirits, with love from the Glynn family to yours.

Instagram : @theshropshiredistillery. Website : www.theshropshiredistillery.co.uk

Goosnargh Gin. Multi-award winning Goosnargh Gin is lovingly crafted by us, Richard and Rachel Trenchard, at our working distillery based at the foot of Beacon Fell.

Instagram : @goosnarghgin. Website : www.goosnarghgin.co.uk

Hundred House Coffee. Our characterful speciality coffee is ethically sourced from sustainable, eco-conscious growers from around the world.

Instagram : @hundredhousecoffee. Website : www.hundredhousecoffee.com/

Pieoneer Pies. The best pies in Shropshire.

Instagram : @pioneerpiesuk. Website : www.pie-oneers.com

Rowton Vineyard. Shropshire vineyard established in 2020.

Instagram : @rowton_vineyard. Website : www.rowtonvineyard.co.uk

Colemere Vineyard. North Shropshire vineyard.

Instagram : @colemerevineyard. Website : www.colemere.co.uk

Harry’s Drinks Company. The best hot chocolate imaginable!

Instagram : @harrys_drinks_company. Website : www.harrysdrinkscompany.co.uk

Bakehouse & Co. Sourdough and viennoiserie bakery.

Instagram : @bakehouse_and_co. Website : www.en-gb.facebook.com/ShrewsburyBread/

Creators.

Shropshire Lad. BBQ Chef and all-round good egg.

Instagram : @shropshire.lad. Website : www.facebook.com/AdamPurnellShropshireLad/

Jon and Gill at Sytch Farm Studios. Bespoke, hand-crafted products suitable for restaurant use and home dining.

Instagram : @sytchfarmstudio & @hotdogsfortea. Website : www.sytchfarmstudios.co.uk/

Netherton Foundry. A family business crafting traditional cookware in Shropshire.

Instagram : @nethertonfoundry. Website : www.netherton-foundry.co.uk/

Risdon and Risdon. Risdon and Risdon represent the go-to company for stylish aprons and matching work accessories for the modern creative.

Instagram : @risdonandrisdon. Website : www.risdonandrisdon.co.uk/

Silver Kite Designs. Small batch crafted sterling silver jewellery inspired by the great outdoors.

Instagram : @silverkitedesigns. Website : www.silverkitedesigns.com

Lyn Evans. Hand torn art of Shropshire and beyond.

Instagram : @torn_paper_art. Website : www.lynevansdesigns.co.uk

Matt Sewell. Internationally acclaimed artist and author.

Instagram : @mattsewell. Website : www.mattsewell.bigcartel.com

Field and Found. Artisan clothiers.

Instagram : @fieldandfound. Website : www.fieldandfound.com

Hopefully Made. Your friendly neighbourhood screen printers.

Instagram @hopefully_made. Website : www.wearehopefullymade.com

Tiny Leaves. Musician, composer, beat maker.

instagram @tinyleavesmusic. Website : www.tinyleaves.co.uk

Curators.

Tanners Wines. Independent family shippers of estate wines and where the Paso story began.

Instagram @tanners.wines. Website : www.tanners-wines.co.uk

Iron and Rose and GlouGlou. Drinks that tell the story of the land where they were grown and the people who grew them.

Instagram : @iron_and_rose. Website : www.ironandrose.com

Gindifferent. Purveyor of gin and the finest libations known to man.

Instagram : @gindifferentbar. Website : www.en-gb.facebook.com/Gindifferent/

Anthony’s of Wellington. Local deli and butchery.

Instagram : @anthonys_of_wellingtonbutchers. Website : www.facebook.com/AnthonysOfWellingtonButchers/

Broad Bean Ludlow. Award winning delicatessen.

Instagram : @broadstreet60. Website : www.broad-bean.com

Moonshine & Fuggles. Drink emporium in Ironbridge.

Instagram : @moonshineandfuggles. Website : www.moonshineandfuggles.com

Shropshire’s Own. Delivering Shropshire’s finest food and drink.

Instagram @shropsown. Website : www.shropshiresown.co.uk

Kelder Wines. Good wine and the occasional snack.

Instagram : @kelderwines. Website : www.kelder.co.uk/

That Beer Place. Bottle shop and tap room in Chester.

Instagram : @thatbeerplacehq. Website : www.thatbeerplace.co.uk

Proprietors.

Ginger & Co. Fantastic coffee shop in the heart of Shrewsbury.

Instagram : @ginger_and_co_coffee. Website : www.gingerandcocoffee.com

Darley Abbey Wines. Wine merchant, bar, and courtyard.

Instagram : @darleyabbeywines1750. Website : www.darelyabbeywines.co.uk

 The Crown in Hastings. Award-winning independent freehouse serving a modern British menu.

Instagram : thecrownhastings. Website : www.thecrownhastings.co.uk

Marcus Bean and Brompton Cookery School. Cookery School in Shrewsbury, owned and run by TV Chef Marcus Bean and his wife Jenny.

Instagram : @marcusbeanchef @bromptoncookeryschool. Website : www.bromptoncookeryschool.co.uk/

CSons. Locally sourced, globally inspired restaurants.

Instagram @csons_food. Website : www.csons-shrewsbury.co.uk/

Docket No. 33. Docket No.33 is a modern British restaurant offering a set Tasting Menu by Stuart Collins. The menu utilises the incredible local ingredients we have surrounding us as well has having some international influence.

Instagram @docket_no.33_whitchurch. Website : www.docketrestaurant.com/

Redford Farm Barns. Two luxury boutique self catering barns set in 12 acres of private, open fields near Ludlow, the beautiful market town famous for its outstanding local food.

Instagram @redfordfarm. Website : www.redfordfarmbarns.co.uk/

Dinham Weir House. A unique destination, under the castle on the river in Ludlow.

Instagram @dinhamweirhouse. Website : www.dinhamweirhouse.co.uk/

Feathers Inn Brockton.

Beautiful country pub supporting local producers.

Instagram : @feathersinnbrockton. Website : www.feathersinnbrockton.co.uk

Cruck Barn. Woodland holiday let.

Instagram @cruckbarn. Website : www.cruckbarn.co.uk