The British Food History Podcast
Episodes
Healthy Eating in the Middle Ages with Katherine Harvey
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a brand new season of The British Food History Podcast!On the podcast today is medieval scholar Katherine Harvey, a scholar specialising in...
Coming soon: Season 10 of the British Food History Podcast
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The British Food History Podcast will return in April 2026!Please subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast app so that you don't miss an epi...
Robert Burns, The Globe Inn & the Annandale Distillery with Jane Brown, Teresa Church & David Thomson
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second of a two-part special all about Burns Night.Burns Night, celebrated on Robert Burns’ birthday, 25th January, is a worldwide ph...
Haggis & the First Burns Suppers with Jennie Hood
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first of a two-part special all about Burns Night.Burns Night, celebrated on Robert Burns’ birthday, 25th January, is a worldwide phe...
Special Postbag Edition #6
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for the now traditional end-of-season postbag episode of The British Food History Podcast, where I (attempt to) answer your questions, rea...
Shakespearean Food & Drink with Sam Bilton
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest on The British Food History Podcast today food historian and friend of the show Sam Bilton, podcaster and author of Much Ado About Cooking De...
Welsh Sheep & Cattle with Carwyn Graves
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is food historian Carwyn Graves, a specialist in the foodways and traditions of Wales, and we are talking about Welsh Sheep and Cattle ...
Subversive Feasting in Medieval King & Commoner Tales with Mark Truesdale
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest on The British Food History Podcast today is historian Mark Truesdale, scholar of the fifteenth-century King and Commoner tradition and its e...
Housekeepers & Butlers with Peter Brears
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I speak with Peter Brears, a world-leading food historian. He was director of both York and Leeds City Museums, and is a consult...
Worcester Porcelain with Paul Crane
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk with ceramics expert Paul Crane FSA about the early years of Worcester porcelain. Paul is a consultant at the Brian Haughton G...
Ireland, Ale & the Colonising British with Christina Wade
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I speak with Christina Wade, a beer historian specialising in the UK and Ireland, with a particular focus on women. She has written a...
BONUS EPISODE: Serve it Forth Food History Festival Special
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hello there everyone!Here’s a quick special bonus episode for you – the lowdown on the Serve it Forth Food History Festival 2025 sponsored by the ...
Derbyshire Oatcakes with Mark Dawson
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Mark Dawson, food historian, specialising in the food of the Tudor period, but also the food of Derbyshire. We met up at Mark’s ho...
A Rare Early Modern Cheese Manuscript with Alex Bamji
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Alex Bamji, Associate Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Leeds, and we are talking about a rare treatise on chee...
Bread & Bakers with David Wright
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is third generation baker, writer and teacher David Wright author of the excellent book Breaking Bread: How Baking Shaped our World pub...
Bronze Age Food & Foodways with Chris Wakefield & Rachel Ballantyne
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guests today are archaeologists Chris Wakefield from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit of Cambridge University Rachel Ballantyne from McDonald Inst...
A Regional Food Tour with Jenny Linford
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is food writer, podcaster and cheese enthusiast Jenny Linford and we are going on a bit of a regional food tour across the UK.We talk a...
Black & White Pudding with Matthew Cockin & Grant Harper
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first episode of season 9 of The British Food History Podcast!Today I am talking with Matthew Cockin and Grant Harper of Fruit Pig – ...
Special Postbag Edition #5
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for the fifth traditional postbag episode, where I (attempt to) answer your questions, read out your comments and mull over your queries. ...
Alexis Soyer with Lindsay Middleton
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I speak with food historian, podcaster and friend of the show Lindsay Middleton about arguably the first celebrity chef, Alexis Soyer, focusing ...
Making Medieval Ale at Home with Alison Kay
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking with podcaster and blogger Alison Kay of Ancestral Kitchen all about recreating medieval ale at home – and how one adapts the mak...
A Tudor Christmas with Brigitte Webster
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas everyone! Welcome to the 2024 British Food History Podcast Christmas special. Today I am talking with Tudor Food historian Brigitte We...
The Philosophy of Puddings with Neil Buttery, Peter Gilchrist & Lindsay Middleton
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The tables are turned today for I am being interviewed by Lindsay Middleton and Peter Gilchrist of The Scottish Food History Podcast about my book The...
An Irish Food Story with Jp McMahon
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I talk about Irish food, food history and identity with Michelin-starred chef Jp McMahon. Jp is the culinary director of the EatGalway Restauran...
Turkey with Tom Copas
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s December, Advent has begun, and we can officially start discussing Christmas so I have put together an episode about turkey that is very much o...
The English Table with Jill Norman
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am in conversation with Jill Norman – author of several books, and editor at Penguin. She very kindly talked to me about Jane Grigson and th...
A History of Baking with Sam Bilton & Neil Buttery
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The tables have turned today because I am being interviewed by author, food historian and friend of the show Sam Bilton. My book Knead to Know is out ...
Crisps with Natalie Whittle
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today is an exciting day because we are tackling a topic that I consider extremely important, CRISPS, with food writer and journalist Natalie Whittle....
Cooking 'English Food' with Nicola Aldren, Simone Blagg & Anthea Craig
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The book English Food by Jane Grigson was published 50 years ago this year. It’s a book that has completely changed my life and I wanted to celebrat...
Jane Grigson with Sophie Grigson
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The book English Food by Jane Grigson was published 50 years ago this year. It’s a book that has completely changed my life and I wanted to celebrat...
50 Years of 'English Food' by Jane Grigson with Sam Bilton, Annie Gray, Ivan Day & Jill Norman
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The book English Food by Jane Grigson was published 50 years ago this year. It’s a book that has completely changed my life and I wanted to celebrat...
Special Postbag Edition #4
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the end of season seven, so it is time for the traditional special postbag edition of the podcast. Much is covered: feminist dining tables, 17t...
Historical Cookery with Jay Reifel
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking with chef Jay Reifel who specialises in cooking historical food. He has co-written a beautiful book with collaborator Victoria Flex...
Ormskirk Gingerbread with Anouska Lewis
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Niche topic alert! Today I amtalking to Anouska Lewis about Ormskirk Gingerbread.Anouska is the writer and presenterof the BBC Sounds podcast Hometown...
The History of Food Waste & Preservation with Eleanor Barnett
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking to Eleanor Barnett about the history of food waste and preservation.Eleanor has written a fantastic book about the history of how w...
The Scottish Salt Industry with Joanna Hambly, Aaron Allen & Ed Bethune
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking to three guests about the Scottish Salt Industry – returning guest Aaron Allen, and also Joanne Hambly and Ed BethuneIn today’s...
Stuffed with Pen Vogler
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I am talking with author and food historian Pen Vogler about her book Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain ...
The Leeds Symposium on Food History & Traditions with Ivan Day
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I am talking with renowned food historian, chef and confectioner Ivan Day.The 38th Leeds Food Symposium of Food History and Trad...
BONUS EPISODE: 'A is for Apple' with Sam Bilton, Neil Buttery & Alessandra Pino
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This bonus episode is in fact a pilot for a new podcast show I have made with Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino.Enjoy! In the very first episode, Neil is...
Medieval Meals & Manners with Danièle Cybulskie
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I am talking with medieval historian Danièle Cybulskie – also known as the 5-Minute Medievalist – about table manners in th...
Spices with Ian Anderson
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I am talking with Ian Anderson who has written a fantastic book published by the History Press called The History and Natural Hi...
The Philosophy of Chocolate with Sam Bilton
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode I am talking to returning guest and friend of the show food historian and writer Sam Bilton about her new book The Philosophy of ...
Apples & Orchards with Joanna Crosby
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
S07E03Apples & Orchards shownotesHappy New Year and welcome to episode 50 of the British Food History Podcast! I talk to Joanna Crosby about the h...
Christmas Special 2023: Mince Pies
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!Leaving a mince pie out for Santa this year? I do hope so. This year’s Christmas Special is all about mince pies: the hi...
BONUS EPISODE: 18th Century Female Cookery Writers with the Delicious Legacy Podcast
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a special bonus episode of the podcast which is a collaboration between myself and the Delicious Legacy, hosted by Thomas Ntinas. It’s al...
Special Postbag Edition #3
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the end of the current run so that means it is time for the now traditional end-of-season special postbag edition. Thank you to everyone who ha...
English Food, a People's History with Diane Purkiss
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neil’s guest is Diane Purkiss and they talk about just some of the topics covered in her book English Food a People’s History published by William...
The School Meals Service with Heather Ellis
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
S06E09 The SchoolMeals Service with Heather Ellis: shownotesNeil’s guest today is Heather Ellis from Sheffield University. Helen is a historia...
Early Television Cookbooks & Tie-ins with Kevin Geddes
06 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neil talks to returning guest Kevin Geddes. He told us all about the wonderful, fabulous Fanny Cradock, but today he is talking to me about Television...
18th Century Tavern Cooking with Marc Meltonville (& Richard Briggs)
29 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Esteemed food historian Marc Meltonville returns to the podcast to talk about taverns, 18th century dining and the cook and author Richard Briggs, the...
Tudor Cooking & Cuisine with Brigitte Webster
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil talks with Brigitte Webster about her new book Eating with the Tudors which has just been published by Pen & Sword History.We talked ab...
Tinned Food with Lindsay Middleton
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil talks to food historian and returning guest Lindsay Middleton about the history of tinned food –something one doesn’t really think abou...
Medlars with Jane Steward
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, Neil talks to medlar expert Jane Steward. Jane has done sterling work in the area of medlar awareness, and now the medlar is...
Recreating 16th Century Beer with Susan Flavin & Marc Meltonville
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil talks to Susan Flavin and Marc Meltonville about recreating as close as possible beer from the accounts of Dublin Castle right at the end o...
Cake Baxters in Early Modern Scotland with Aaron Allen
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We kick off the new season with a fascinating chat with Aaron Allen at Edinburgh University about cake baxters in Early Modern Scotland – usually wo...
Tripe Special: Sam Bilton & Neil Buttery Talk Tripe
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a special bonus of the podcast, Sam Bilton and Neil Buttery have combined forces to make a whole episode about all things tripe. We discuss our exp...
Special Postbag Edition #2
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neil’s polishing off season 5 with a postbag edition of news, readers’ questions, comments and queries, special events and other miscellany.Previo...
Elizabeth Raffald with Alessandra Pino & Neil Buttery
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today the tables are turned, and Neil is the guest on his own podcast and is interviewed about his new book Before Mrs Beeton, Elizabeth Raffald, Engl...
Traditional Food of Lincolnshire with Rachel Green
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neil talks to chef and food writer Rachel Green about the traditional foods of Lincolnshire. Rachel is a chef, author, TV presenter, ...
Invalid Cookery with Lindsay Middleton
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Neil talks to food historian Lindsay Middleton about invalid cookery – an important part of cookery books of the 18th to early 20th...
18th Century Dining with Ivan Day
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode Neil’s guest is esteemed food historian Ivan Day. Ivan is a social historian of food culture and a professional chef and con...
London's Street Food Sellers with Charlie Taverner
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! In the first episode of 2023 Neil talks to historian Charlie Taverner about London’s street food sellers. Charlie’s book ‘S...
Hogmanay and Hamely Kitchen with Paula McIntyre
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil talks with Paula McIntyre about Hogmanay and her BBC TV show, the excellent Hamely Kitchen. Paula is an Ulster-Scots chef who lives on the ...
Christmas Feasting with Annie Gray
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil kicks off the season with a Christmas special, talking Christmas feasting – and cooking – with scholar and author Dr Annie Gray. Annie is aut...
Special Postbag Edition #1
15 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first postbag edition of ‘The British Food History Podcast’. On this episode: memories of Glyn Hughes; listeners letters; Yorkshire...
Yorkshire Pudding with Elaine Lemm
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is food writer and Yorkshire Pudding expert Elaine Lemm to discuss the good old Yorkshire Pudding.They discussed many things including...
The Philosophy of Curry with Sejal Sukhadwala
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil talks to journalist and author Sejal Sukhadwala about her new book The Philosophy of Curry. Her book charts the history of the curry, how i...
The British Cook Book with Ben Mervis
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil talks to food writer, journal editor and now author of The British Cook Book, Ben Mervis, published by Phaidon on 22 September in the UK and 8 Oc...
British Saffron with Sam Bilton
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On the show today is author, food historian and returning guest Sam Bilton to talk about British Saffron – both growing it and eating it – Sam has...
The Foods of England Project with Glyn Hughes
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil’s guest today is Glyn Hughes, the man behind one of the most important resources for anyone interested in the history of food or traditional En...
A History of Herbalism with Emma Kay
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil’s guest today is historian and friend of the show EmmaKay. Today we talk about Emma’s new book A History of Herbalism: Cook, Cure& Conjur...
Breakfast with Felicity Cloake
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to episode one of the new fourth season of The British Food History Podcast.Kicking us off is Neil’s guest Felicity Cloake. Neil & Felic...
A Dark History of Sugar with Neil Buttery & Emma Kay Part 2
21 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once more, Neil is a guest on his own podcast interviewed by friend of the show, and previous guest, author and food historian Emma Kay about the dark...
A Dark History of Sugar with Neil Buttery & Emma Kay Part 1
07 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil is a guest on his own podcast talking about the dark history of sugar. He’s interviewed by friend of the show, and previous guest, author and f...
Cheddar & the Cheese Industry with Peter J. Atkins
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Neil talks with Emeritus Professor Peter J. Atkins about the history of Britain’s cheese industry. Britain had a diverse range of cheeses unt...
Fanny Cradock with Kevin Geddes
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neil has a most enlightening chat with Kevin Geddes about the fabulous television cook Fanny Cradock (1909-1994). Fanny has a reputation for being dif...
Food in Gothic Literature with Alessandra Pino
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today Neil chats with Alessandra Pino, co-author of ‘A Gothic Cookbook’, about food in gothic literature. They talk about the inspiration behind t...
Christmas Special 2021: Christmas Pudding
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the podcast’s first Christmas Special Neil delves into the history, origins and folklore surrounding the good old Christmas Pudding: the cornerst...
A Dark History of Chocolate with Emma Kay
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of the third season Neil chats to food historian, Emma Kay about her new book ‘A Dark History of Chocolate’. They talk about ...
Eel special: 3. The Plight of the Eel with Andrew Kerr
29 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In part 3 of his Eel special, Neil looks at the more recent history of the eel, focussing upon the conservation of our new favourite slimy fish. In th...
Eel special: 2. Silver Eels with John Wyatt Greenlee
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of his three-part Eel Special, Neil looks at adult eels – yes our little elvers from last week have all grown up. In this episode he looks...
Eel special: 1. Elvers with 'Elver' Dave
15 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In part one of his three-part Eel Special, Neil focusses on eel fry – elvers, or glass eels – once a very important source of seasonal protein the...
Savouries
08 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Neil looks at the rise and fall of the now largely forgotten savoury course, once a mainstay of Victorian and Edwardian dinners. He fo...
Forme of Cury with Christopher Monk
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Forme of Cury with Christopher MonkIn episode two of the second season Neil chats to foodhistorian, chef and scholar Dr Christopher Monk about the fir...
Gingerbread with Sam Bilton
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gingerbread with Sam BiltonIn the first episode of the second season Neil chats to food historian, cook and chef, Sam Bilton, author of gingerbread co...
Lent episode 7: Lent Comes to an End
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 4 Apr 2020.*Best listened to on the sixth and final Sunday of Lent*In the final episode of the season, we look at how the last Sun...
Lent episode 6: Social Evolution & Lent
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
*Best listened to on the fifth Sunday of Lent*In the penultimate episode of the first season, we look at what goes on in the fifth Sunday of Lent, whi...
Lent episode 5: Lent & Health
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 22 Mar 2020.*Best listened of the fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday)*In the fifth episode of the season we look at Mid-Lent ...
Lent episode 4: The Natural History of Lent
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 15 Mar 2020.*Best listened to on the third Sunday of Lent*In part four, we look at how Lent was dumbed down over the years from ex...
Lent episode 3: Pagan Lent & Easter
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 8 Mar 2020.*Best listened to on the second Sunday of Lent*In this episode we look at Pagan aspects of Lent and Easter that have en...
Lent episode 2: The History of Lent
10 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 1 Mar 2020*Best listened to on the first Sunday of Lent*This episode explores Ember Week, a nod to the coming of Spring always obs...
Lent episode 1: Preparing for Lent
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally released 19 Feb 2020*Best listened to the Sunday before Lent starts (i.e. Sunday before Pancake Day)This first episode explores all the thi...