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‘They had bread, butter, cheese, cold meats, blackberry tart, new ale (and yet more ale), and tea; and then dinner…’ (The Lord of the Rings J.R.R Tolkien)
If there’s one thing hobbits do better than most, it’s eating – and eating well.
As their creator, J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote: “If most of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
And what better way to embrace his wisdom than with a summer picnic made up of deliciousness gleaned from Moreton-in-Marsh, otherwise known as ‘Bree’, in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
Landlord of the Bell Inn (The Prancing Pony) John Longbottom with a pint of ale credit Tracy Spiers
Modern-day Barliman, landlord John Longbottom, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary of pulling pints for Morton folk, serves up a hearty version, along with lots of ale of course.
“I don’t think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.” (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
John, however, is well informed. “We are offering them a ‘second breakfast’ sandwich which no self-respecting hobbit would refuse,” he tells me.
Named the North Cotswold CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year for 2025 (the second time in three years), The Bell Inn has also been recognised as a Timothy Taylor’s Champion Club Pub. It has a map of Middle-earth and a corner dedicated to Tolkien.
Hobbits, if you are not aware, are small, cheerful folk with a love for comfort, good food, and simple pleasures – a passion many modern-day foodies can relate to.
So, dear reader, whether you’re planning elevenses under an old beech tree or a full-blown second breakfast beside a murmuring brook, let me help you pack a hobbit-worthy hamper, with just the right mix of rustic charm and hearty fare.
It might be worth starting your foraging (hobbits are keen on ‘gathering’) at the weekly Moreton market, considered the biggest in the Cotswolds, held every Tuesday on the High Street, where you’ll find everything from local honey to crusty, stone-baked breads.
The market in its current guise celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, although it was established under a charter granted in 1638.
“We have got sausage rolls, which are big, with a good meat to pastry ratio and are very hobbity.
“But on Fridays we do a croissant cube filled with all sorts of fillings [ such as passion fruit and white chocolate with dark chocolate ganache and Chantilly] as well as other decadent things,” says Verity.
“Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms, surpassing even the greediest likings of Big People.” (The Lord of the Rings)
“It’s local and very mushroomy in flavour, great with a sourdough and a chilled ale,” she explains.
The Rollright, a washed-rind soft cheese banded in spruce bark has a thin, orangey-red rind, is salty with subtle nutty, smoky bacon notes and a strong flavour of butter, another must in the hobbit diet.
Knowing mushrooms were important to hobbits, I go on the search for them. I don’t visit Moreton on a Tuesday, so the weekly market is not an option, so I drive to Daylesford Organic farm shop, a few miles outside of Moreton, to enjoy a feast of colour.
Here were mushrooms, strawberries, cold meats, and every item a hobbit could want including healthy options such as scrumptious salads like asparagus, pea and feta with cannellini bean, lemon and mint or pistachio and black olive tabbouleh. Here you’ll find the perfect picnic bags and hampers, napkins, tumblers, drink coolers, and throws to add a touch of finesse.
“The International Hobbits Society meet in England once a year and use the rooms where we are sitting.
“They have very serious debates here such as discussing a new theory on something Aragorn said in the second book. A few of them dress up as hobbits and Gandolf,” says Bill Ramsay, the hotel’s General Manager.
He gives me and my travelling companion (mum, Jan) a sneak peek of a couple of the hotel rooms which pay tribute to Tolkien – including an ink illustration of a hobbit house.
As an aside, the dream of a Shire-worthy home is alive and well in the Cotswolds — and estate agent Hayman Joyce in Moreton knows exactly where to track down a proper little hobbit haven.
And while hobbits are famously fond of round doors and deep cellars, they also love a sunny window seat to enjoy a post-luncheon nap.
Mike Honour Windows Ltd, at Northwick Business Centre, specialises in bespoke joinery that brings both warmth and craftsmanship to homes that value character. Hobbits can also get kitted out in true Cotswold attire at Henry’s of Moreton, especially if summer weather does prove unpredictable.
For your picnic pitch, head to Batsford Arboretum for dappled shade and a good view — or simply meander a little way out of town until you find the perfect spot that feels just right.
Hobbits, after all, are excellent judges of comfort. The Garden Terrace Café is open daily from 9.30am if dining in style is your preferred choice.
‘The cakes will keep sweet for many many days’ (The Lord of the Rings)
In true Shire fashion, a picnic isn’t a picnic without something sweet. Think scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam or better still, a slice of honey cake — dense, sticky, and worth carrying in a pack all day. If you spot honeycomb at a local farm shop, grab it. Hobbits adore honey, especially when it comes with a bit of buzz. Laura Pashley from Cotswold Farm, a deli and café in Moreton, says that as well as artisan breads, local Cotswold butter, vegetables and fruit, she can provide plenty of sweet offerings.
‘Carrot cake is the best and we have a lovely flapjack ‘Just Jacks’ made in Bourton- on-the-Water, packed with oats, butter and golden syrup, with no calories obviously!
‘I think a hobbit would find variety here, he is not going to go hungry,’ she adds.
‘When we were growing up, there was a cherry blossom tree in our grandparents’ garden. It is also the signature tree of Batsford Arboretum, so we incorporated those two together and called the restaurant Sakura. We serve English bistro food but also have a couple of Asian fusion dishes to tie in with the Japanese theme,’ says Ben.
‘I think modern-day hobbits would enjoy the gelato the most, especially this time of year when it is this hot. We have a signature gelato, the Sakura Signature, which is cherry and amaretto, to fit our cherry blossom theme. They might like the Biscoff which is my favourite, and we do a mint Aero, a popular choice for children.’
It is my suspicion that hobbits would enjoy a party atmosphere which Sakura facilitates.
‘They would love it here. Once a month we do an event called Boogie Bingo and rather than shouting out numbers, we play music and if they have that song on their sheet, they tick it off,’ adds Ben. ‘I think they would enjoy it, it’s a fun event, lots of singing and dancing and it’s a great atmosphere. ‘
A popular musical event of note is Longborough Festival Opera, held 27 May to 2 August 2025, which includes The Barber of Seville, Dido and Aeneas, and Pelléas et Mélisande. It is one of the UK’s finest country opera houses, with a 500-seat theatre set in the village of Longborough, just three miles from Moreton.
This event brings glorious, soul-lifting performances under the wide Cotswold sky. Whether you bring your own basket of delights or opt for one of their curated hampers, this is picnicking on a grander, more elvish scale.
As my opening quote suggests, ale plays a vital part in a hobbit’s diet. But perhaps the modern-day hobbit might opt for a shot of caffeine at one of Moreton’s welcoming tea and coffee shops including Huffkins, Martha’s, Victoria Coffee House, Lynwood & Co or Boneyard Kitchen.
‘A general hobbit at this time of year would love an ice latte with a little vanilla shot, or maybe honeycomb. Or they might like the Grouch Ambassador, made with hazelnut syrup and chocolate, so it tastes like a Ferrero Rocher,’ she says.
‘Foodwise, hobbits would get a take-away bagel, perhaps one with pastrami and gherkin with homemade honey mustard mayo, or our homemade peanut butter, but I am not sure if they have any allergies. They wouldn’t be able to resist a cake, and even though the counter is quite high, I think they would still be able to see it and they would go for apple bread for a bit of fruit, because I think they are naturally healthy creatures.’
Wherever you fill your hamper with, Moreton’s offerings will be made with love and care. Food is, after all, more than fuel — it’s fellowship. And few creatures understand that better than hobbits. So, this summer, channel your inner Bilbo Baggins, gather your kindred spirits, and wander out into the Cotswold sunshine, with your picnic basket brimming with joy, adventure, and second breakfast!
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