With new eateries and attractions opening left, right and centre, Gloucestershire is bursting with new things to try this year – from sipping fresh sake to having a go at one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
Whether you’re keen to get active in the great outdoors or try the most Instagrammable food in the county, discover 8 of the coolest new things to try in Gloucestershire in 2021 with SoGlos’s latest round-up.
1. Try padel at East Glos Club
It’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and Gloucestershire’s early adopters can finally see what the hype is all about by trying padel at East Glos Club in Cheltenham – the south west’s first and only place to play.
Launched in April 2021 and easy to learn, padel is a fun and sociable doubles game, incorporating the same scoring system as tennis as well as the ability to play the balls off the walls, like in squash.
2. Try a plant-based burger in Gloucestershire
Veganism has been on the rise for the past few years, with more people opting for environmentally-friendly, plant-based alternatives to meat dishes.
And Gloucestershire is home to plenty of vegan-friendly eateries, if you’re yet to give plant-based food a try, including the new, virtual Holee Cowless burger joint in Cheltenham and The BBQ Society in Gloucester, which both serve some seriously convincing faux burgers.
For more inspiration, check out 18 of the best vegan menus in the county.
3. Try stand up paddleboarding in Gloucester
Stand up paddleboarding has boomed in popularity over the past couple of years, with people of all ages and abilities able to give the water sport a go.
If you haven’t tried it yet, consider taking to the water for a sunset paddle through Gloucester Docks with Discover Paddling; or test your balance with an on-board yoga session at SUP Gloucester’s picturesque spot by The Lower Lode Inn in Tewkesbury.
4. Try foraging for food in Cirencester
The past year has seen people reconnect with nature on a whole new level – with foraging for wild food becoming even more mainstream since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Foodies can hunt for edible treasures in Cirencester, heading off into the Cotswold countryside on a foraging course with Wild Food UK.
5. Try rainbow siopao in Cheltenham
For some of the most Instagrammable food in Gloucestershire, head to the recently-launched Humble Kusina in Cheltenham, where you can pick up a selection of rainbow Siopao buns to enjoy at home.
Pronounced ‘shoe-pow’, these gorgeous and photogenic buns are a popular street food in the Philippines, stuffed with char siu pork; traditional chicken adobo; or even chocolate orange ganache – all with a quirky colourful twist.
6. Try alt format wine from Stroud
On a mission to bring Italian traditions to the UK in the most sustainable way possible, When in Rome is an alt format wine producer from Stroud – serving quality, vegan-friendly wines in alternative packaging, like bag-in-box, cans and flat recycled PET bottles.
It’s also partnering with the world’s greenest football club, Forest Green Rovers, to bring its wines from small, independent Italian producers to the eco-conscious stadium in Nailsworth.
7. Try the new cocktails and cupcakes bar in Cheltenham
Sweet-toothed locals are in for a treat at Cheltenham’s trendiest new bar, The Urban Fox.
Serving up a curated menu of cocktails and cupcakes, the Montpellier hot spot opens for business on Monday 17 May 20210 – and its stylish décor makes the perfect backdrop for that long overdue group pic.
8. Try fresh sake in Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s latest new addition, Yogan, promises to immerse locals in contemporary Japanese culture – with the chance to ty fresh sake at its restaurant on Bath Road.
With authentic dishes, a dedicated sushi offering, Japanese whiskies and lots of tasty cocktails on the menu, it’s a must visit when it opens on Monday 17 May 2021.
