Winner
Chosen by our judges:
The Welbeck Bakehouse, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
Finalists
The top public vote-winners:
The Welbeck Bakehouse, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
The Leys Bakery, South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire
The Garage Bakehouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The winner is The Welbeck Bakehouse, a wholesale bakery that has built a reputation for producing some of the finest artisan bread and pastries in the region.
Founded in 2008 by Alison Swan-Parente, a passionate advocate for real bread, The Welbeck Bakehouse is dedicated to promoting traditional baking techniques. Using only four essential ingredients for its bread — flour, water, salt and time — the bakery specialises in long fermentation methods, ensuring every loaf is free from artificial additives and preservatives.
The Welbeck Bakehouse is perhaps best known for its sourdough, which many, including our judges, consider some of the finest in the region. Whether it’s the classic Welbeck Sourdough or the more adventurous Bramley Apple Sourdough, the flavours and textures are exceptional. But sourdough is just the beginning. The bakery produces over 60 varieties of artisan bread and pastries, including focaccia, ciabatta and Vollkornbrot, alongside a range of Viennoiserie that showcases their expertise in fine pastry.
The bakery’s influence extends beyond its products. Alison Swan-Parente also founded the School of Artisan Food in 2009, further demonstrating her dedication to preserving and promoting traditional baking skills. The Welbeck Bakehouse’s passion for artisan bread-making has helped build a thriving community of independent bakers and food businesses across the country.
In addition to their core bread and pastry offerings, The Welbeck Bakehouse continues to innovate with seasonal bakes and ‘clean-label’ loaf cakes and traybakes, ensuring their range remains fresh and exciting.
If you haven’t tried Welbeck sourdough yet, make sure to pick up a loaf — it’s a taste of true artisan excellence!
The other finalists
The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
Located in Clarendon Park, Leicester, this small but mighty bakery has become a local favourite, celebrated for its exceptional quality and variety of cakes, breads and pastries. Despite its modest size, The Tiny Bakery has earned a big reputation, recently being named Leicestershire County Winner at the National Bakery Awards 2024.
This year marks the bakery’s 10th anniversary, and its success over the past decade is clear from the loyal customers that often queue up to get their hands on its mouthwatering creations. The Tiny Bakery’s offering is truly spectacular, from crisp, perfectly laminated pastries to their ever-popular cruffins and Danishes topped with local blackberries. The bakery has a reputation for imaginative, seasonal bakes, each made with care and precision.
The Tiny Bakery, a past GFC award-winner, proves you don’t need large premises to make a big impact — just a commitment to great ingredients and skilled craftsmanship.
The Leys Bakery & Cafe, South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire
Set in the scenic North Nottinghamshire countryside, The Leys is a family-run, community-inspired bakery and café that perfectly reflects its rural surroundings. Housed in a beautifully restored former cow shed in the village of South Wheatley, this artisan bakery is dedicated to good quality, seasonal ingredients, and slow-fermented handmade sourdough.
Owner Daisy and her team craft a weekly changing menu that reflects the best seasonal produce from nearby suppliers. Fruit comes from Goacher’s, while meat is sourced from Westlands Farm Shop, ensuring that every dish celebrates the flavours of the region. The bakery’s slow-fermented sourdough bread is a triumph, with a depth of flavour that earning a loyal following.
In addition to their sourdough, The Leys offers a range of freshly baked goods, along with a menu that includes breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee and cake — all inspired by the natural beauty and bounty of the local area. Whether you’re stopping in for a hearty lunch or a slice of cake and coffee, the welcoming atmosphere and focus on local, seasonal produce make The Leys a special place.
The Leys Bakery & Cafe is a good example of how a local business can embrace its surroundings and create something unique.
The Garage Bakehouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The Garage Bakehouse, celebrating its 10th anniversary, was our Bakery of the Year 2019 and a finalist in 2015. No stranger to recognition, it has become known for its brilliant baking, locally roasted coffee and mouth watering sandwiches.
Founded by Dan Cadoo in 2014, The Garage Bakehouse has a special origin story. Dan transformed his grandfather’s old garage into a bakery and, a few years later, expanded into the neighbouring building — his grandmother Christine’s former hairdressing salon. What started as a small family venture has flourished into one of Market Harborough’s most cherished shops.
Today, Dan, Lauren, and their talented team bake hundreds of loaves of bread, thousands of pastries, and countless treats each week.
Their menu is filled with freshly baked breads, pastries and sandwiches, all made with care and attention to detail. Pair that with their locally roasted coffee, and it’s no surprise that customers travel from far and wide.
The Garage Bakehouse is a labour of love for the whole team – and the community is all the richer for it.
