For the Climate Action Festival, local freelance copywriter and content creator Laura Whitehead, has written a guest blog on how you can best shop sustainably in our little city in the run up to the festive period and beyond.
Making more sustainable choices in your daily life doesn’t have to be a hassle – just choosing a different shop is a great way to start. Shopping locally can help reduce your carbon footprint, support local businesses, and help you live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Here are some of our favourite local shops in Lincoln that can help you make more sustainable choices when shopping, from groceries to books, clothes, gifts and more.
Shop Fresh Local Produce in Lincoln
Fresh From The Fields
Fresh From The Fields is a family-run greengrocer that offers locally sourced produce in the heart of Lincoln as well as plants, flowers and other goods. They also provide wholesale orders to local businesses. Check out their shop at St Pauls Lane, Bailgate, Lincolnshire LN1 3AL, open 9 – 5 from Monday to Saturday and from 10 – 1 on Sunday.
J Shaw and Son
Since 1902, J Shaw and Son has been based in Alvingham, Lincolnshire, providing locally grown fruit and vegetables at its farm shop and offering deliveries to local areas. Visit their shop at Buxton House, Yarburgh Road, Alvingham, Near Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0QG from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 to 4.
Grain of Truth Artisan Bakery
This bakery offers traditional loaves, slow-fermented breads, focaccia, pastries, and more, all baked on-site here in Lincoln. Visit the Grain of Truth Bakery at Unit K, Peregrine Mews, Dowding Road, Lincoln, LN3 4PH on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 9:30 – 11.
Bread + Cheese
Known locally as ‘the bread and cheese man’, the mobile Bread + Cheese appears all around Lincolnshire, selling bread and other baked goods provided by Grain of Truth as well as artisanally produced farmhouse cheeses, including the famous Lincolnshire Poacher, crumbly Lancashire, an amazing cow’s milk halloumi (or hal-moo-mi), Baron Bigod brie from Suffolk and more. Follow Bread + Cheese on Instagram to catch them on their travels around the county.
Redhill Farm Butchers
Redhill Farm sells its free-range pork, chicken, lamb, beef and more from their shop in the Bailgate and their farm shop in Gainsborough. All their meats are sourced from their farm or other local and regional suppliers. Boasting 95 Great Taste awards, Redhill Farm also stocks other local produce including free-range eggs, preserves, pickles, ales, gins, cheese and more. Visit them at 89 Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR from 8:30 – 5 on weekdays, 8:30 – 4 on Saturdays and 10 – 4 on Sundays.
Sustainable Household Goods
Lincoln Eco Pantry
The Lincoln Eco Pantry is a zero-waste shop that offers a wide range of pantry goods, including herbs, spices, flours, pasta, tea, coffee, sugar, snacks, and a great selection of sustainable household goods from skincare products to washing up liquid and more. Check them out at 9 Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AE from 9 – 5 every day and 10 – 4 on Sundays.
Forage and Fill
Forage and Fill at 3 – 4, The Strait, Lincoln has a selection of plastic-free and zero-waste products, from produce to gifts, soaps, drinks and a variety of reusable goods that make it easy to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Pop in from 9 – 5 every day (10 – 4 on Sundays) to browse their goods.
Restaurants, Cafes and Bars
Slow Rise Pizza
Slow Rise is a vegetarian and vegan pizza restaurant and takeaway that offers homemade Naples-style pizzas using fresh ingredients and slow-proved dough, hence the name ‘slow rise’. Their selection of delicious pizzas, tempting sides, homemade tiramisu, beers, wines and cocktails is available at their restaurant or for delivery. Grab a slice from Slow Rise at 8 -12 St. Martin’s Lane, Lincoln LN2 1HY.
Mint Lane Café
Mint Lane Café is more than a cafe that uses locally sourced surplus food to create delicious and affordable meals (kids eat for free!), it is a community venue, food surplus shop and home to the Involve@Lincoln wellbeing centre, all run by volunteers. They also host a world food supper club, cookery classes, an art studio, a gardening club and more. You can pop into the Mint Lane Café at 12, Mint Lane, Lincoln LN1 1UD from Wednesday until Friday from 10 – 2.
Bailgate Deli
Tucked away in a secluded spot of Lincoln’s uphill area, Bailgate Deli offers a delicious plant-based menu, plus a variety of produce and ingredients for sale from their deli counter. They source many ingredients locally and offer a seasonal breakfast and lunch menu as well as themed weekends, plus coffee and an amazing cake selection. Vitis the Bailgate Deli from 9 – 5 from Tuesday to Saturday at 4 Gordon Rd, Lincoln LN1 3AJ.
7 Districts Coffee
7 Districts Coffee is a specialist coffee roaster that offers fair trade, single-origin coffees, keeping a close eye on its supply chain to offer the most ethical coffee possible. They strive to be as sustainable as possible, planting a tree for every coffee sold and offering unsold products through Too Good To Go. They have three coffee shops in Lincoln, Welton, and Nettleham. You can see their full list of shops and opening times here.
Clothes, Books, Gifts, and more
Lark Books
Lark Books is an independent bookshop here in Lincoln that hosts book clubs, art classes & workshops, plus other events. Lark Books also offers tea, coffee and a delicious selection of cakes. You can pick up some great art prints and gifts as well as books – visit Lark Books at 4 Saltergate, Lincoln LN2 1DH on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am.
Ego Clothing
Ego is an independent shop selling new, second hand and vintage clothing in Lincoln. Ego has been open for 25 years and has three whole rooms full of unique and original clothes for men and women – go and have a browse from 11 – 5 and 12 – 4 on Sundays at 2 The Strait, Lincoln LN2 1JD.
With Love From Lincolnshire
This venue stocks both second-hand clothing and household items and offers shop space for local makers to sell their handmade wares. A real eclectic mix of all kinds of gift items, crafts, and other goods, it’s almost impossible to leave With Love From Lincolnshire without buying something. Visit them from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 – 5 at 173 Burton Road, Lincoln, LN1 3LW.
The Lincoln Imporium
The Lincoln Imporium is a local business that sells just one thing – imps. The imps are based on the city’s unofficial mascot, the Lincoln imp, crafted by mediaeval stonemasons as part of the cathedral. Available in two sizes, each imp from the Imporium is handmade and unique, making for a great gift and souvenir of the city. Visit the Lincoln Imporium at 36 Steep Hill, Lincoln, LN2 1LU every day except Wednesday from 10:30 – 4:30.
Follow Laura’s work by visiting: https://theblurstoftimes.org/ and LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-whitehead-9b3660b2/
The Climate Action Festival runs 18 – 23 November, with a varied schedule of events. Visit https://lncn.ac/caf for more information.