Bakery Cottage in Melton Mowbray was our first confirmed Great Food Club Awards winner of 2025/6 and this year’s People’s Choice Champion.
This special annual award goes to the business that receives the most votes across all categories – no judging required, just the voice of the public. Last year it was the mighty Hambleton Bakery. This year, the crown goes to a much smaller but equally beloved venture – Bakery Cottage – showing how much people value small independents rooted in their communities.
Founded by Helen Easom and run from her five-star food hygiene approved home kitchen via an honesty cabinet, Bakery Cottage has become legendary locally. Helen pours love and passion into every bake, and her creations sell out in a flash. From gooey brownies and blondies to cake jars and Friday treat boxes, everything is made by hand with the best ingredients. Popular favourites include Kinder, Biscoff, rhubarb & custard, and pistachio & white chocolate brownies – indulgent treats that feel like gifts whether you’re sharing or spoiling yourself.
Helen’s story is one of resilience, craft and community. A finalist in the 2019/20 GFC Awards and previously named Best Cake Baker by Great Food Magazine, she continues to grow Bakery Cottage while staying true to her ethos of hearty, homemade food.
Our judges may not decide the People’s Choice Award, but this year’s result speaks volumes: Bakery Cottage has captured the hearts (and sweet teeth) of Melton Mowbray and beyond.
Find Bakery Cottage’s Honesty Box at 55 Victoria St, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0AR
