Buying Cheaper than Renting?
 What's the worst-case scenario? Observers are predicting price falls of 15, 25 or even 30 per cent over the next few years, with some saying it will be 2012 before the market recovers.
Does it make sense to buy a home? A new analysis from the agent Savills should help potential homeowners to decide whether the sums add up - even if it takes years for house price rises to resume.
Take Savills' warning that the credit crunch may cause house prices to fall 10 per cent this year and another 15 per cent in 2009. Should these total price declines of 25 per cent become a reality - the latest Nationwide figures suggest prices have dropped 8.1 per cent in 12 months - Savills predicts that the cost of buying will be brought in line with that of renting by the end of next year, helping to restore demand.
Lucian Cook, a director of research at Savills, said that should rents rise 10 per cent over this year and next, and prices drop the estimated 25 per cent, the cost of buying with an interest-only mortgage will be just 4 per cent more than renting. At that point, Mr Cook says, “we expect people to buy back into the market”.
The analysis, based on average UK property prices and rental yields, takes into account potential income lost by choosing not to invest equity elsewhere, as well as typical buying costs such as stamp duty, and running costs such as repairs and insurance. But it ignores capital appreciation - the factor that encouraged many buyers to wade in during the recent boom years but which cannot be relied on in the current, more subdued market.
The Savills research shows that the actual cost of buying (for a homeowner in her first year of paying off an interest-only mortgage) has been greater than renting since 2004. But for those borrowers - the majority - who choose to pay off the capital, not just the interest, buying has been more expensive than renting since 1999, just a few years into the boom.
In 1996 a homebuyer could pay off capital and interest and still be quids in: she was paying on average 10 per cent less than rental costs. But by the peak of the market last year she was paying a massive 76 per cent more to buy. Even a buyer on a less onerous interest-only mortgage was paying 44 per cent more than a renter.
Savills says that renting has remained affordable relative to buying in recent years because rental growth has been subdued. But now the tide has turned, with rents rising consistently despite the flood of unsold homes reportedly coming into the rental pool.
Katherine Loynes, a property search agent who runs Bespoke Property Finder, sold a two-bed apartment on Richmond Hill for £596,000 at the height of the market last April in favour of renting. She says: “I just had an inkling that the market had got overheated. I expected to rent for 18 months, but now I think it will be another 12 to 24 months before it recovers.” Ms Loynes, who made almost £150,000 on her flat, which she spent £100,000 renovating, will be willing to reinvest the proceeds in property when the market starts moving again, which she thinks will start with sellers being willing to accept realistic prices. Many sellers have been reluctant to cut asking prices: in the boom they tolerated the extra costs of ownership because they were banking on capital appreciation.
Buyers have also been all too aware that, over the course of a 25-year loan, inflation and wage growth will erode the value of expected mortgage repayments, while rents can be expected to carry on increasing. This should make paying more to buy in the short-term a financially sound decision. But the recent boom unbalanced these sums: the cost of a repayment mortgage over 25 years is currently 40 per cent more than renting.
Savills' research suggests that by the end of next year buying will, over a 25-year mortgage, again be cheaper than renting, prompting potential buyers to re-enter the market.
Flat Prices
 Official figures show that a decline in the prices of flats has become a major factor in the housing market slowdown.
Between May and June, a 3.6% fall in the price of flats contributed to the price of the average home falling from £216,625 to £215,029, according to the Department for Local Government and Communities (DCLG).
Despite the slowdown in the housing market, the DCLG said prices still increased by 0.6% in the 12 months to June with house price growth the strongest in Scotland.
Earlier this month, the Halifax House Price Index revealed property prices fell 1.7% in July, and were in line with rival Nationwide, who also said prices were 1.7% lower in July.
However, unlike these surveys, which are weighted according to transactions, the figures from DCLG are based on information from lenders and are slightly behind.
The DCLG said annual house price growth in the UK slowed for the eight month in a row. In June, it was 0.6%, which was down from an annual rate of 3% in May and 7.9% in January.
In England, annual growth in house prices fell to 0.5% in June from a rate of 3.1% in May, and in Scotland it was down to 5.7% from 5.9%.
Prices fell year-on-year by 1% in Wales and by 9.4% in Northern Ireland.
In the English regions, prices still increased slightly compared with June last year with the South East, the East, London and Yorkshire and the Humber, up 1.8%, 1.5%, 1.4% and 0.7% respectively.
Meanwhile, prices fell year-on-year in the North East, the South West, the North West, the East Midlands and the West Midlands, and were down 0.2%, 0.4%, 1.1%, 1.1% and 1.9% respectively.
71% Less Mortgages
 Figures from Moneyfacts.co.uk have revealed that there are now 71% fewer mortgages available compared with this time last year.
There are now 3,748 mortgage deals available compared with 13,027 mortgage products last August, according to Moneyfacts, showing what an impact the credit crunch has had on the housing market.
Furthermore, the number of loans has lessened, with an average maximum of 90% loan-to-value (LTV) dwindling to 80% while the number of firms offering 100% mortgages has fallen from 33 to only 2.
Commenting on the figures, Michelle Slade, an analyst at Moneyfacts, said as a result of the credit crunch, the mortgage market has changed significantly.
However, the mortgage market should continue to improve from its current position, according to Ms Slade.
Evidence of this is the fact that in the last month alone, rates have been cut by several lenders including Nationwide, Abbey, Woolwich, Cheltenham & Gloucester and Halifax.
However, while this will be undoubtedly be good news for homeowners whose existing fixed-rate deals are about to expire, it will not help first-time buyers who are riding out the current situation in the housing market.
Property prices fell 1.7% in July, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index showing that the housing slowdown is gathering pace.
Many economists have indicated that property prices could fall by around 20% during 2008 and 2009, which is one reason why first-time buyers are holding fire.
Another reason first-time buyers are in wait and see mode is the fact that Chancellor Alistair Darling has recently announced plans to temporarily suspend stamp duty on house sales.
However, he has been accused of dithering and according to Ray Boulger of mortgage broker, John Charcol, housing transactions will diminish further until he confirms his proposals.
Home Improvement
Converting an attic into a bedroom, either to use as a guest room or to create a bigger bedroom, can add thousands of pounds to your home's value.
The Porter-Wright family, who live in Wandsworth, south London, extended their semi-detached Victorian house downstairs to create a breakfast and family room, and converted the loft into a fourth double bedroom with an en suite wetroom. Together, the conversion and extension have added approximately £100,000 to the value of their property, according to their estate agent.
Jeremy Best, manager of estate agents John D Wood in Wandsworth which is selling the property at £775,000, says: 'The extra space they've created is exactly what younger families are looking for. It's not enough any more to have a reception room, dining room and a separate kitchen. People now want a kitchen that is either big enough for a dining table and has playroom space, or a room which is just off the kitchen but still open plan. Similarly, with bedrooms, families don't want tiny box rooms as the third or fourth room - it has to be a good size.'
Best says that a 'decent' loft conversion can add value to your home, provided it is in proportion with the rest of the property: 'There's no point putting in a loft extension and creating more space upstairs if you've only got one tiny reception room on the ground floor. Similarly, there's no point extending into your garden if it's going to leave you with a tiny outside space. Many people, particularly young families, are viewing homes now with the intention of living there long-term, so any extension project has to be balanced against the rest of the house.'
Oliver Bedford owns a four-bed house in Battersea, which only had two bedrooms before he extended into the loft. He also extended the downstairs area, to make a spacious kitchen-diner, and opened up the reception room to make it into a bigger family space.
'Everything has been about making the best use of the available space,' he says. 'With two young children, it can get very crowded. We extended so we could get as much mileage out of the property as we could.'
Bedford, who is selling his property, says if he had the space around the house to extend it further he would.
Spencer Cushing, manager of John D Wood in Battersea, says his rule of thumb is that a bedroom extension can add between £50,000 and £75,000 to the value of a property in London.
'It's very difficult to guess how much more an extra room is worth at the moment, because of current market conditions, but typically, if a property has an extra bedroom or bathroom, or both, because its owners carried out an extension, then that house has a much greater shelf life than its neighbours,' he says. 'It already has the living space family buyers are looking for.'
Cushing has been asked recently by sellers whether or not a loft conversion or extension will make their property more saleable in the current climate - but he says that having planning permission in place is sometimes more attractive to buyers than having the work already completed.
House Prices to Rise House prices will stop falling next year and will soar 30% over the following three years, a leading economics consultancy have said.
The rare optimism will delight homeowners who have been worried by gloomy predictions in recent months.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research predicts the housing meltdown will stop in the middle of next year and believes that by the end of 2012 average house prices will be up by more than £50,000 to a record £226,000.
Homeowners who have bought in recent years and feared their home would never be worth the price they paid for it will be particularly relieved.
There have been predictions that within a year around 1.7m homeowners will be in negative equity, where the size of their loan exceeds the value of their home.
The CEBR says the lack of new homes in England is one of the key factors that will fuel the house price recovery.
Housebuilding has almost come to a halt. Construction firms say there is no point putting up new homes during a mortgage drought and when confidence is so low.
Yet the demand for new housing continues from groups such as divorcees and immigrants.
Other factors, such as mortgage lending picking up and the Bank of England cutting interest rates from 5% to 4.25% next year, could also cause prices to pick up.
The CEBR's positive prediction about house prices reflects views from the National Housing Federation. It said it expects prices will keep on falling in 2009 but start to recover in 2010 and 'rapidly increase' in 2011.
The 50 Best Deli's
OK, not strictly property but who doesn't like to try something new? What does your nearest delicatessen offer? Many also have websites.
West Street Deli
With Bird & Carter and East Harnham Deli to choose from there's little chance of going hungry in the Salisbury area. The pick of this fine bunch, though, is the new kid on the block, West Street Deli, which opened last autumn and is packed with local produce. The range currently includes organic veg and salad from Sting's Lake House company, but the shop also buys in anything from courgettes to truffles from local gardeners with a glut and sells it on either as is or turned into delicious, home-made ready-meals.
Where: 5-7 West Street, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire (01722 744566)
East Dulwich Deli
Excellent Italian produce from tasty cheeses, salami and prosciutto to great pastas, oils and vinegars that you just can't get elsewhere. It's always packed to the rafters with fantastic ingredients to try out, and Tony, the owner, is always on hand with some good advice on gourmet and fresh products. It can get extremely busy on weekends and is at the more expensive end of things, but there's no denying the quality.
Where: 15 Lordship Lane, Dulwich, London SE22 (020-8693 2525)
Fine Foods of Yorkshire
The small market town of Easingwold is becoming an essential foodie pitstop. As well as Tea Hee cafe, which sells a fantastic selection of British cheeses alongside award-winning coffee and cakes, it's also home to this great all-round deli. Opened two years ago, Fine Foods of Yorkshire sells fresh fish (delivered daily) and a good choice of cheeses, artisan breads and homemade savouries and desserts. One of the owners was previously a butcher so the meat - much of it local - is top notch too.
Where: 107 Long Street, Easingwold, North Yorkshire (01347 823 606; www.finefoodsofyorkshire.com )
Ravenstone Deli
An outpost of foodie indulgence in a region where adding Marie Rose sauce to a meal is often seen as the height of decadence, this fast-growing deli and bakery now includes a butcher's shop and a home-baked pizza service. Though the deli only opened three years ago, it has already won a deserving following in the local area, with regulars making a worthwhile pilgrimage for its range of gourmet olives, gooey cheeses, luxury biscuits and homemade pies.
Where: 61-63 George Street, Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway (01988 500329; www.ravenstonedeli.com )
Fresh Basil
The antithesis of some of the more chi-chi delis in this list, Belper's Fresh Basil is a no-nonsense sanctuary for good, honest food. Set in a former fire station, the decor in both the deli area and the attached "eaterie" leans towards the homely. Welcoming and inclusive, the store stocks an excellent range of produce, from home-cooked meats, fresh pâtes and over 60 varieties of cheese to fresh salads and marinated olives.
Where: 23 Strutt Street, Belper, Derbyshire (01773 828882; www.freshbasil.co.uk )
Ultracomida
Narberth's answer to Dean & Deluca, this popular deli-cafe (with a sister branch in Aberystwyth) does a brisk trade in continental cupboard staples at reasonable prices. Though the deli's shelves support plenty of local produce, as the name suggests, there's a definite Spanish influence here. The tapas, especially, is becoming an institution and, if you don't want to eat in, you can buy everything from stuffed peppers to Serrano ham to go.
Where: 7 High Street, Narberth, Dyfed (01834 861491)
Red Earth
"There are lots of good things at this family-run deli," promises Rosie Sykes, who adds that you can spend hours looking for "tasty bits" - largely local, handmade produce from Devon. Alongside cheese, charcuterie, dips, pâtes, olives and antipasti, Red Earth has carved out a niche supplying "free-range" ready meals put together by hand in its nearby kitchen. There's also a cafe tucked away at the back of the deli.
Where: 1 Duke Street, Kingsbridge, Devon (01548 856100; www.redearthkitchen.co.uk )
MacFarlane’s
"The owners of MacFarlane's, Angie and Angus, used to work with Hamish Johnson on nearby Northcote Road and they now run their own place. It is mostly a fromagerie but it also has a really good deli counter with lots of meats and salamis, plus great pies, tarts, tortillas, sandwiches, fresh veg, organic milk, smoked fish, freezer section - the list goes on!
Where: 48 Abbeville Road, Clapham, London SW4 (020-8673 5373)
McConnell Thomas
This lovely organic deli, in the heart of the pretty estate village of Hovingham, stands out from the crowd for its ethical stance. Like its sister branch in Kirkbymoorside, everything it stocks is either organic, pesticide-free, naturally produced, locally made, fairly traded or minimally packaged - ideally the whole lot of them. The ethos even extends to the shopping baskets, which are handwoven from English willow.
Where: Park Street, Hovingham, North Yorkshire (0845 838 3459; www.mcconnellthomas.co.uk )
Halseys
Stocking everything from cooked meats, pies and cheeses to teas, coffees and fresh local veg, this "age-old institution" has been operating as some sort of food shop for more than 150 years. The owners also recently added a tearoom to the deli.
Where: Market Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (01462 432023)
Mortimer & Bennett
"The Mortimer in the name is Dan Mortimer, and while that might not ring many bells generally, Mr Mortimer is neck-high in foodie connections which gives him the edge when trying to source seriously obscure, or wittily unusual products. With a thriving online business and a good nose for quality produce this place has it covered.
Where: 33 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, London W4 (020-8995 4145; www.mortimerandbennett.co.uk
Daniela’s of Jesmond
The great thing about this largely Italian deli is its lack of airs and graces. Though there's plenty of posh nosh among the stock - from hams, olives and cheeses to hard-to-find Sardinian wines and gourmet ice cream - there's nothing stuffy about the service. Daniela's bakes its own ciabatta and focaccia in-house, but it'll happily serve up a no-nonsense stottie to anyone rolling into their sandwich bar a little the worse for wear.
Where: 5-7 Cavendish Road, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (0191-281 1142)
Delizique
The battle to be Glasgow's best gourmet grocery just got a little tougher with the opening of Cafezique. Sister business to Delizique (and occupying the premises the deli left when it shifted next door), this works like an elaborate tasting room for the deli's wide range of produce. Adam, the deli's baker, makes the most beautiful breads, including an enormous stuffed loaf, made every day, which is then sliced off by the piece as sandwiches.
Where: 66 Hyndland Street, Glasgow (0141-339 2000; www.delizique.co.uk )
Shelford Deli
Nearly 10 years old now, this lovely little shop has a great range of meats and cheeses and some splendid pasties and pies.At lunchtimes there's a queue right out the door. A quality grocer's with an emphasis on home-cooked produce and good service, it makes the most of a network of local suppliers. If you're feeling too lazy to cook it does a popular range of homemade ready meals.
Where: 88 Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge (01223 846129; www.shelforddeli.co.uk )
Esca
This chic deli, patisserie and cafe in Clapham has a large, mouth-watering window display piled with cakes and tarts - each of which are made freshly in-house each day. The front area has floor-to-ceiling shelves groaning with olive oils and all manner of pasta (it's great fun to step up the ladder to find what you want), while the back part of the space operates as a sociable cafe, complete with communal tables.
Where: 160a Clapham High Street, London SW4 (020-7622 2288; www.escauk.com )
Yellow Door Deli
A spin-off from a restaurant of the same name, the Yellow Door Deli opened in Portadown a decade ago. Serving up freshly baked bread, olives and patisserie alongside gourmet ready-meals, the idea is that customers can shop here and enjoy the restaurant experience at home. With the original restaurant having been sold off in 2000, the company now focuses on the deli, with a second branch in Belfast now in operation, too.
Where: 74 Woodhouse Street, Portadown, Craigavon, Northern Ireland (02838 353528; www.yellowdoordeli.co.uk )
Deli Flavour
Leicester might not be up there with Bologna or Barcelona as a classic gourmet destination just yet, but that doesn't mean it's a culinary wasteland. For a start, it's home to Deli Flavour. Set in the Stoneygate area, you'll find everything here from sourdough bread and local Quenby Stilton to Spice-N- Tice curry kits. If you're looking for equipment, or gifts, the shop has also recently introduced a range of cookware.
Where: 27 Francis Street, Stoneygate, Leicester (0116-270 0771; www.deliflavour.net )
Riverford Goes to Town
Known for its organic veg and meat boxes, this is "the friendly high-street face of a tidy little empire in the West Country", according to Matthew. Strong relationships with producers, a focus on organic produce and a farm-to-plate ethos, with excellent control over the provenance of their produce, helps draw customers in at the company's first town-based outlet (it also runs several farm shops).
Where: 38 High St, Totnes, Devon (01803 863959; www.riverfordfarmshop.co.uk )
Carluccio’s Spinningfields
If there were awards for snootiness, Carluccio's would win hands down. If you like to be treated like a lesser mortal while you shop, this Manchester branch of the now-nationwide chain is the place for you. Aside from the surly service, though, it does have some decent, if pricey, stock. From Tunbridge Wells to Manchester, Carluccio's is a fabulous nationwide Italian deli serving Mediterranean specialities and beautiful pralines.
Where: 3 Hardman Square, Manchester (0161-839 0623; www.carluccios.com )
Mimosa
This is just one example of a growing phenomenon - the deli-as-cafe-as-cookery-school-as-bistro-as-focal point. With a well-stocked deli on the one hand and a fully functioning catering company operating out of the same kitchen on the other, the result is a fantastic range of prepared pastries and foods to take away, alongside the buzz of a lively kitchen. It's well respected locally and a real find for this part of south London."
Where: 16 Half Moon Lane, London SE24 (020-7733 8838; www.mimosafoods.com )
Clive Ramsay
This long-established Scottish deli stocks a massive range of what it calls "sexy food". And, no, that doesn't mean mountains of asparagus and tanker-loads of oysters, just good, wholesome produce. All the usual suspects are here, from pasta to artisan olive oils, as well as a good range of local produce (don't miss the raspberries in season) and, if they don't have what you want, they'll order it in. If browsing leaves you feeling peckish, there's also a cafe next door.
Where: 28 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan, Perthshire (01786 833903; www.cliveramsay.com )
Bill’s Produce Store
Bill's is a show and no mistake. The displays demonstrate a masterful grasp of texture and colour: black potatoes against white mushrooms; oranges sit with beetroots; and dried peppers, chillies and tomatoes hang from the ceiling. Part greengrocery, part restaurant, Bill's Lewes branch (there's another in Brighton) has expanded into the next-door space and now sells bacon, sausages, eggs and cheese."
Where: 56 Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex (01273 476918; www.billsproducestore.co.uk )
Deli on the Square
You might expect a town that boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants to have a decent food store and Ludlow does, in the shape of this traditional deli. Specialising in local, British and Continental cheeses (it stocks over 140 different varieties), it also sells mustards, meat, olive oils, vinegars as well as quirkier products like raspberry gin, smoked sea salt and Shropshire gravadlax.
Where: 4 Church Street, Ludlow, Shropshire (01584 877353; www.delionthesquare.co.uk )
The Gazzano's
This is literally Italy in a shop. You'll find loads of really good freshly made pasta, with truffles and all sorts. It's been there forever and, after services in the nearby Italian church, it's full of expat Italians from Barnet or wherever coming in to get their fix.
Where: 167-169 Farringdon Road, London EC1 (020-7837 1586)
The Black Olive
With its beautiful seaside location, The Black Olive is both well known locally and attracts tourists from far afield. If you're embarking on a seaside jolly then this is a great place to stock up on provisions. Leaning unsurprisingly towards local seafood (one half of the dynamic duo behind this place is a fish merchant), there's an excellent range of everything else too. A relative newcomer, it's rapidly making a name for itself.
Where: 80A-80B High Street, Southwold, Suffolk (01502 722312)
Sawers
This is a feast for the eyes when you walk in and one of those places you won't ever leave empty-handed. Known for its excellent seafood and cheese sections (there are 150-200 cheeses on offer at any one time), Sawers champions small local producers. Stock up here on infused vinegars, sun-dried tomatoes and local favourites such as Ditty's oatcakes, Sprott's dry-cured bacon and Tiernan Family Farm cheese.
Where: 7 Fountain Centre, College Street, Belfast (02890 322021)
Lucy's of Ambleside
In essence, Lucy's is one person's interests in a diffusion range – Lucy's Specialist Grocers houses the deli, while there's a café and restaurant next door, an affiliated cookery school, a wine-bar franchise and a catering company. The deli is still the main draw. Triple its original size, much of the produce is baked in the kitchen, with the emphasis on quality Cumbrian fare. You may come here to shop, but you'll likely stay to eat.
Where: Church Street, Ambleside, Cumbria (01539 432288; www.lucysofambleside.co.uk )
Trinity Stores
Trinity Stores is the type of café-cum-deli that brings the village feel back to a suburban neighbourhood, or, in this case, Balham. It has open floor-to-ceiling shelves with all the foodie brands you'd expect and plenty more. There's an excellent selection of salads, tarts and quiches, plus the best scotch eggs and sausage rolls south of the river. Boxes of Amalfi lemons, wild rocket and freshly baked breads greet you as you enter.
Where: 5-6 Balham Station Road, London SW12 (020-8673 3773; www.trinitystores.co.uk )
The Merchant of Venice
This family-run business prides itself on its friendly, and very knowledgeable, service. Co-owner Lorenzo Maraspin used to run Gino's, a popular Italian restaurant in Bournemouth, and "99 per cent" of the stock here is Italian. In addition to stocking the usual deli staples, the Merchant of Venice also runs a fantastic, made-to-order sandwich bar, packed with exquisite ingredients. Afull catering service is also available.
Where: 489 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset (01202 855166; www.merchant-of-venice.co.uk )
The Corner on the Square
From local cheeses to carefully chosen wines, decent haggis to organic Highland wheat beer, the Corner on the Square may not have the largest stock of any UK deli but it does have some of the most eclectic. Big on local produce such as Highland herb hams, smoked salmon and heather honey, as well as seasonal specialities, the shop also does a nice line in cheeseboards and platters-to-go. There's also a small café, serving delicious home baking.
Where: 1 High Street, Beauly, Inverness-shire (01463 783000; www.corneronthesquare.co.uk )
Appleyards
A treasure trove of mouth-watering produce, both local and Continental, though this tightly packed traditional shop sells most deli favourites, it is best known for its wide range of cheeses and meats (the home-cured bacon has an especially dedicated following). Pleasant, helpful staff lend it a welcoming atmosphere and, if you don't make it to the shop itself, the owners also have an outlet in the town's market hall.
Where: 85Wylecop, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (01743 240180)
Valentina
This fantastic Italian deli just got better, recently extending to create a restaurant and expanded wine range. There's no shortage of delis in this part of south-west London but Valentina stands out for it's great service as well as the pride the owners clearly take in what they do. Expect the usual Italian fare, but better, and you'll soon be well on your way to living la dolce vita.
Where: 210Upper Richmond Road, East Sheen, London SW14 (020-8392 9127; www.valentinafinefoods.com )
Chandos
They're better known for their presence in Bristol, but there's something about the atmosphere in this Bath branch that draws you in. With such a variety of West Country produce available and some of the most discerning restaurants nearby (including Bath Priory and Lucknam Park), there's a real clamour for good food locally and you can get in on the action at Chandos. Whiling away some time browsing is time well spent here.
Where: 12 George Street, Bath (01225 314418; www.chandosdeli.com )
Barbakan
Head to this fantastic deli to stock up on Eastern European meats, breads and pastries. From buckwheat honey and dried mushrooms to authentic pierogi – ravioli-like parcels stuffed with cheese, cabbage or meat – this is a great place for Polish supplies. It's especially good on breads, with over 50 different types baked on the premises.
Where: 67-71 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester (0161-881 7053; www.barbakan-deli.co.uk )
Wally's
If you like your delis to come with an old-school flavour, Wally's is for you. One of Cardiff's oldest delis, in business for over 60 years, its shelves, counters and ceilings are packed with over 1,400 products, from German charcuterie to Italian panettone and South African biltong. "You name it, we've almost certainly got it" is their motto, which helps explain the shop's semi-religious following.
Where: 42-44 Royal Arcade, Cardiff (029 20229265; www.wallysdeli.co.uk )
Villandry
Well known for its upmarket, bistro-style restaurant and relaxed wine bar, this serious operation also extends to an expansive deli and foodstore. A recent refurb has given the place a welcome lift and, though the shop also operates an effective online store and a take-away counter, browsing among the dry goods, charcuterie and fantastic breads and pastries is an absolute pleasure.
Where: 170 Great Portland Street, London W1 (020-7631 3131; www.villandry.com )
The Chef's Table
Tetbury is something of a foodie mecca in the Cotswolds. The Chef's Table is home to the former Michelin starred chef Michael Bedford. Famed for its top-notch bistro, there's also a small café, cookery school, open kitchen and a not incidental deli. Prepared foods to take away dominate, local producers like Shipton Mill are given due prominence, and continental produce is well represented.
Where: 49 Long Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire (01666 504466; www.thechefstable.co.uk )
Lewis & Cooper
From a humble grocer's store in the North Yorkshire market town of Northallerton, Lewis & Cooper has developed into one of the UK's most famous food emporiums. On a par with Selfridges food hall, it has a special deli department packed with high-quality local specialities as well as more cosmopolitan produce, including fine wines, continental cheeses and meats. It also has an excellent online store.
Where: 92 High Street, Northallerton (01609 772880; www.lewisandcooper.co.uk )
Valvona & Crolla
The fact that this Edinburgh institution is coming up to its 75th anniversary shows how good it is. The owners' extended family have branched out into cafés and restaurants over the past fewyears, but, for serious foodies, the original store is likely to remain the best, a tightly packed treasure trove of Italian oils, wines, cheeses, chocolates and much more.
Where: 19 Elm Row, Edinburgh (0131-556 6066; www.valvonacrolla.co.uk )
Sadlers
Opened just last autumn, this new deli-cum-cafe stocks all the products no self-respecting foodie's store cupboard should be without, aswell as a nice range of cookery books, culinary gifts and wines and has a friendly atmosphere. A word of warning, though: don't go when you're feeling hungry if you're trying to save money – it's very hard to leave empty-handed.
Where: 2-6 High St, Daventry, Northamptonshire (01327 312909; www.sadlersfinefoods.co.uk )
Chisnalls Delicatessen
In chi-chi Saffron Walden, this is the foodie destination. A family business established for over 50 years, what Chris Chisnall doesn't know about cheese, quite frankly, isn't worth knowing. It stocks both continental and UK cheeses, plus all the accoutrements you can shake a fondue stick at. You can still get all your cold cuts and produce to round things off, but it's the cheeses I go there for.
Where: 3 Market Walk, Saffron Walden, Essex (01799 528239)
Churchmouse Cheeses
As the name might suggest, this celebrated Cumbrian store is best known for its range of cheeses. Both local and international tastes are catered for, with stock running a full and pungent spectrum from Tovey goat's cheese to Picos Blue. Traditional hand-patted butter, homemade cakes, chutneys and pickles are also part of the draw.
Where: 4 Market Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria (01524 273005; www.churchmousecheeses.com )
Melrose and Morgan
This is a really beautiful shop full of home-made pies, salads, cakes andmany other things. With both a deli counter and an in-store kitchen rustling upwholesome ready-meals to take away, you'll find everything here from fruit and veg to chicken pies and whiffy cheeses – largely sourced from small, independent UKproducers. It's friendly and approachable and they're happy to advise and help.
Where: 42 Gloucester Avenue, London NW1 (020-7722 0011; www.melroseandmorgan.com )
Salvador Deli
The Carmarthenshire town of Llandeilo isn't quite as stuck in the sticks as the rural location suggests. As well as being home to a branch of fashion store Toast and a glamorous new boutique hotel, it also boasts one of the best small delis in Wales. Originally a 17thcentury pub, this well-stocked foodie emporium has a wide range of local, British and European produce from pickles, cheeses and cold cuts to organic bread, herbs and – on Fridays – fresh fish.
Where: 3 Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, Dyfed (01558 824609)
Delilah
Keeping the discerning stomachs of Nottingham content, Delilah is an independent deli and wine merchants combined with a tapas-style food and coffee bar. The store's design is as sophisticated as the upmarket brands its stocks but don't be intimidated by the fancy-pants styling. The atmosphere here is welcoming and friendly and the range of produce on offer impressive.
Where: 15 Middle Pavement, Nottingham (0115-948 4461; www.delilahfinefoods.co.uk )
Delifonseca
This large, split-level store brings the traditional deli up to date. Downstairs is a stylish shop selling quality staples – including local cheeses, charcuterie and freshly baked breads – while the upstairs is home to a swish dining area, the perfect setting for gorging on one of the store's delicious homemade sandwiches. Another thing that sets this deli apart is its sociable atmosphere – events, such as wine tastings, pull in yet more punters.
Where: 12 Stanley Street, Liverpool (0151-255 0808; www.delifonseca.co.uk )
Humble Pie
This place, in Burnham Market, personifies the "small is beautiful" mantra. It's extremely small but absolutely stuffed to the gills and has a good deal of charm and character. It stocks well-sourced and carefully balanced produce, with much thought going into good provenance and food miles. The focus is on homemade jams and chutneys.
Where: The Green, Burnham Market, Norfolk (01328 738581; www.humble-pie.com )
Ottolenghi
It is torture not to stop and look at the incredible jewel-like windowdisplay including their brownies and fabulous meringues - they're the size of pillows, make great pavlovas and are fabulously colourful.
Where: 1Holland Street, Kensington, London W8 (020-7937 0003; www.ottolenghi.co.uk )
Heart Buchanan
The owner of this Glasgow stalwart, Fiona Buchanan, trained with Scottish chef Nick Nairn. But if that makes this foodie haven in Glasgow's West End sound fancy, it's much more down to earth than you might expect. Also offering a catering service, private dining and cookery workshops, Heart made its name selling gourmet ready-meals but it also stocks all the staples of a good deli.
Where: 380 Byres Road, Glasgow (0141-334 7626; www.heartbuchanan.co.uk )
Perns of Helmsley
Run by the Nicholson family for three generations, this former butcher's shop was bought by the owners of the Star Inn at Harome three years ago and now also stocks wines, salads, sandwiches and pickles. It's the meat that really sells Perns, though. You can pick up everything here from home-made pies and locally bred meat, game and poultry to readymeals, parfaits and terrines.
Where: Market Square, Helmsley, North Yorkshire (01439 770249; www.thestaratharome.co.uk )
New Streetwise Products
Streetwise Maps are having a busy summer despite the property doldrums. More and more people are doing "home improvements" rather than selling up and therefore they need a map for their planning application. Combining this with prices which are up to 50% cheaper than other suppliers and it's easy to see why Streetwise makes sense.
On a different note Streetwise have been making the website even easier to use after some recent feedback from customers. They now have extra map sizes which include large 1:2500 maps and very detailed 1:200 scale Block Plans in MS Word formats.
PNG file formats also mean those interested in producing multiple scales from one map can do so at the highest quality.
The aim with these recent changes is to help make the planning application process, complex in own right, that bit simpler when it comes to getting the right map.
To find out more about these services visit us at www.streetwise-maps.com |
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The 50 Best Deli's
Ok, not strictly property but who doesn't like to try something new? What does your nearest delicatessen offer?
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