Ever immersed in a Walking Food Tour?

I did exactly that yesterday, with tour guides Charla and Matt of Hidden Food Tours, and now I am a little bit hooked!

Walking food tours are a wonderful way to savour the flavours of a region while exploring it on foot with fellow foodies, and when you happen to find a guide who is immersive, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and relaxed, as I did, the experience leaves a truly lasting impression.

Charla and Matt of Hidden Food Tours, near Melton Mowbray, the Rural Capital of Food, host wonderfully curated and immersive food adventures on foot through both my hometown of Melton Mowbray and the historic streets of Lincoln City. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining them and a group of lovely food lovers in Lincoln. and 3 glorious hours later, I came away not only with a full belly, but a deeper appreciation for the stories, flavours, and people that make Lincoln so special.

The Lawn Café & Restaurant

After arriving at rendezvous point, The Lawn Café & Restaurant, it was immediately evident how much care and thought Charla and Matt put into their tours. Coming off the A46, the main artery from my hometown, just two turns later I was parked in The Lawn’s car park, a few short steps away from a complimentary hot drink of my choice. A simple yet perfect start to the tour!

With a warm welcome from Charla and Matt, and a thoughtful complimentary Hidden Food Tours bag, plus 'Great Food Club Handbook 2025, The East Midlands, No. 1 food and drink guide' in hand, we began our walk toward Lincoln Cathedral, stopping momentarily to discover a small number of interesting tour snippets, such as, the Westgate Water Tower's story on Chapel Lane.

Westgate Water Tower

The Tower was built following a devastating typhoid outbreak in 1904–1905, which tragically claimed 113 lives, Lincoln’s local authority commissioned the tower and a new water supply system.

Redhill Farm Free-Range Pork

We paused briefly outside the shop of Redhill Farm Free-Range Pork on Bailgate, a family-run artisanal business that raises, produces, and sells its exceptional pork products, whilst Charla collected a few samples for us to enjoy later in front of the majestic Lincoln Cathedral.. Matt treated us to some captivating historical insights about the Minster and the region’s rich culinary heritage, all while we savoured the delicious artisanal treats Charla had gathered earlier from Redhill.

Lincoln Cathedral

As the group started to make their way back through the entrance archway for the tour's next stop, I spied a horse & trap, so lingered until it had made its way into the Minster's courtyard to create a few speedy snaps, so I could share on this post.

Steep Hill Wines

The group and I then made our way down Steep Hill, where we stopped at Steep Hill Wines, an artisanal, independent wine, gin, and rum merchant, to sample some delicious locally produced wines from Mayfield Vineyard, and discover their story, hosted by manager, Ivan.

Jew's Court

Jew's Court's origins can be traced back to around 1170, making it one of Lincoln's oldest surviving structures. Historically, it is believed to be the site of a medieval synagogue. Despite its age, the building has undergone several transformations over the centuries, including significant alterations in the 18th century. The windows, which were replaced in the early 19th and 20th centuries, add to the building's unique character.

The Cheese Society Cheese & Bakery, and Slow Rise Pizza

After a short amble, we arrived at St Mary’s Lane, where we stopped by  Slow Rise Pizza, a family-run Neapolitan-style vegetarian pizza restaurant and takeaway, to enjoy a delicious, perfectly blistered Margherita and Marinara, having just indulged in a delectable cheese tasting at The Cheese Society, another wonderful family-run business, originated by Kate O’Meara in 1997, and after the business expanded she acquired the property on St Martins Lane. The Baron Bigod Brie paired with Hawkshead Chilli Jam, and the Delice de Bourgogne paired with Thyme infused Honey seemed to be firm favourites!

Sign of the Fish

We then headed to Cornhill Quarter, and after a brief walk along Fossdyke Navigation Canal, we were each treated to a portion of delicious Fish & Chips in the cosy backyard of Sign of the Fish on Sincil Street, one of the oldest still running fish & chip shops in the UK! It was lovely to discover its history, and to discover more about those also on the tour.

La Bella Di Casa

With our bellies thoroughly satisfied, we crossed the street for a fitting finale: a visit to La Bella Di Casa for a tasting of their authentic, handcrafted Italian ice cream, made with ingredients sourced directly from the heart of Italy ... utterly bellissimo!

Be sure to visit the respective websites through the links I have provided in this article, for a deeper dive into the inspiring stories behind them. Better still, why not book yourself on a Hidden Food Tour with Charla and Matt?

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If you are a foodie, and would love to spend time with likeminded people, then I thoroughly recommend immersing yourself on one or more of Charla and Matt's Food Tours.