Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 17th October 2025

I’ve been to the Food & Drink Awards for the past four years – here’s why this year’s was the best yet

I have attended the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards for the past four years, and here is why this year’s was the best yet. The esteemed ceremony returned on Thursday evening for its seventeenth year, when the gold, silver and bronze winners were announced across the 19 categories at the Royal & Derngate.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 26th September 2025

I’ve closely followed this unique Northampton business for the past few years – here’s how they thrive

I have been a close follower of this Northampton independent for the past few years and here is how they have not only survived, but thrived during a turbulent time for the business community. The start of 2025 marked a new beginning for town centre cafe-turned-events-venue The Eccentric Englishman at the heart of St Giles’ Street.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 4th September 2025

‘I do my best to visit Northampton businesses when I can – here’s how much your purchase means to them’

I do my best to visit, support and purchase from Northampton businesses as often as I can, and it is clear just how much every purchase means to them. It will come as no surprise to regular readers of our Chronicle & Echo coverage that I feel passionately about appreciating the vastness of quirky and independent businesses across our town.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 27th August 2025

We’ve tracked business openings and closures across Northampton – here’s what it’s shown us about 2025

As a newspaper we have done our best to track all the business openings and closures across Northampton so far this year, and here is what it has shown us about 2025. You may have seen that we already published summaries of the openings and closures throughout the first and second quarters of this year.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 21st August 2025

I’ve lived in Northampton for most of my life – here are three of my standout town centre dining spots

I have lived in Northampton for most of my life and here are three standout dining spots across the town centre which deserve your support. I stand by the fact that the Northampton community is lucky to have such a wide variety of independent businesses, each with their quirks and individualities.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 13th August 2025

‘I visited Northampton’s new boutique wellness business at the heart of town – here’s what I thought’

I visited Northampton’s newest boutique wellness business at the heart of the town centre, and here is what I really thought of the addition to the much-loved St Giles’ Street. 360° Wellness Group is run by trio of business partners Kamil Rosinski, Claudiu Hoban and Slaw Bejm, and it opened to the public back in January.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 11th August 2025

I speak to Northampton business owners everyday – here are three hidden gems you need to know about

I have the pleasure of speaking to the business owners of Northampton everyday, and here are three hidden gems that you need to know about. Having recently shared seven of my favourite independent businesses, now comes the time to share some hidden treasures that may not be on your radar.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 5th August 2025

‘I visited an independent Northampton business for permanent welded jewellery – is it worth the hype?

I visited an independent Northampton business for permanent welded jewellery, and here are my thoughts on the trend that is gradually taking the country by storm. Jackie Firestone launched Evermore Permanent Jewellery in September last year and after tying the knot at Duston Village Bakery in January, her husband Phil joined the venture.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 15th July 2025

‘I speak to business owners across Northampton everyday – here is what it has shown me about our town’

For the past three years I have worked for this newspaper, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to business owners across Northampton – and here is what it has shown me about our town. One thing that has allowed me to maintain optimism about my hometown is our independent business community, who are determined to bring innovation, uniqueness and difference.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 7th July 2025

‘I dined at one of Northampton town centre’s newest foodie hotspots – here’s what I made of it’

I dined at one of Northampton town centre’s newest foodie hotspots, and here is what I made of it. Mission Chicken was opened by brothers Matt and James Ingram at the former Buddies Diner site in Dychurch Lane at the end of May.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 1st July 2025

‘I went to my first paint and sip session in Northampton – is this popular trend worth the hype?’

I went to my first paint and sip session in Northampton, and here is what I really thought about this popular trend that is taking the country by storm. Since 2019, Paintvine has brought people together through creativity and the business is described as “the UK’s leading paint and sip experience”.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 25th June 2025

‘I went to the 100 year celebration of a much-loved bakery and we should be proud to have businesses like this’

I went to the 100 year celebration of a much-loved bakery and we should be proud to have businesses like this at the centre of our community. Duston Village Bakery prides itself on being a community hub and marked its impressive centenary milestone by inviting everyone along to the bakery on June 8.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 24th June 2025

I’ve lived in Northampton most of my life – here are seven of my favourite independent businesses

I have lived in Northampton for most of my life, and here are seven of my favourite independent businesses that deserve your support. We are lucky to have so many wonderful and innovative businesses in our town, who continue to fight through times of uncertainty and financial hardship to serve their community.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 16th June 2025

‘I went to an event that welcomed female business owners from all over the world – here’s what it was really like’

I was lucky enough to attend an event that welcomed female business owners from all over the world to Northampton, and here is what the experience was really like. If you have not heard of the Female Founders Summit, especially as it has been hosted in our town for the past two years, where have you been?

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 7th April 2025

I tried Northampton town centre’s newest afternoon tea offering and it is just £20 per person

I tried Northampton town centre’s newest afternoon tea offering and it was just £20 per person, which all goes to a worthy charity. The Lewis Foundation, which delivers 2,000 gift packs to adult cancer patients across the Midlands each month, proudly took over The Link Cafe inside the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery last November.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 30th December 2024

I ate my Christmas Day dinner at an award-winning Indian restaurant in Northampton – here’s what I thought

I swapped a traditional roast dinner for a three-course meal at one of Northampton’s award-winning Indian restaurants, and here is what I thought. It was only earlier this year when the Tamarind Restaurant in Wellingborough Road scooped a prestigious county accolade – having been named ‘World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year’ at the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 9th December 2024

Small Business Saturday: We should be proud of Northampton’s independents and go out of our way to support them

Having spotlighted some amazing independents across Northampton in the countdown to Small Business Saturday (December 7), we should be proud of what the town has to offer. Day in and day out I get to speak to the individuals at the heart of our town’s business community, and their passion is something to behold.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 31st October 2024

‘I visited one of Northampton’s newest eateries and it’s changing the game in the hospitality industry’

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting one of Northampton’s newest eateries and, in my view, it’s already contributing to the exciting evolution of our town’s food and drink scene. Yellow Bus Catering is an events company with a twist. With a fleet of three converted American school buses that can be hired for any occasion, this in itself was already an innovative concept.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 28th October 2024

‘I went to Dr Fright’s Halloween Nights and we’re lucky to have this immersive experience in our county’

I survived the seven mazes at this year’s Dr Fright’s Halloween Nights and we are lucky to have this spooky experience on our doorsteps in Northamptonshire. Dr Fright’s is definitely a love or hate experience and as someone who has attended for almost a decade, I can safely say I have come to love it.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo • 18th October 2024

‘I went to the Food & Drink Awards and it was a joyous celebration of why we should be proud of Northamptonshire’

This week I went to the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, and it was a joyous celebration of one of the reasons we should be proud of our county. As my third year in attendance, the room only gets more vibrant each time – with more things to be excited about among our evolving food and drink scene.