The gentrified Shropshire town of Ludlow has established itself as one of England's foodie hot-spots, with a clutch of top-class restaurants and even its own locally-based gastronomic festival. Elsewhere, the county has tended to absorb lots of ideas and skills from its near neighbours, especially when it comes to cheesemaking, cakes & butchery. Welsh influences also loom large near the border. On the drinks front, Shropshire also has a strong contingent of independent and micro-breweries, who distribute their beers to pubs across the county.