Lovingly Artisan, the Cumbrian-based bakery which has a popular unit at Altrincham Market, has been named as the top bakery in Britain as part of the 2023 Bakers’ Dozen – which lists the best artisan bakeries in Britain as voted for by industry experts.
The Bakers’ Dozen was revealed recently at the first ever meeting of The Artisan Collective, held at The Compound, in Birmingham sponsored by Bako, Brook Food & Bakery Equipment, Craggs & Co, and Dawn Foods.
The Artisan Collective is an initiative created by British Baker, the leading source of information for the baking industry, to celebrate artisan bakeries and the people behind them while offering a platform to facilitate conversations and share skills. Lovingly Artisan co-owner Catherine Connor joined the expert panel discussion examining cost effective marketing for bakery businesses alongside journalist Vince Bamford, Matthew Bond, from Project D and Vhari Russell, from The Food Marketing Experts.
When it came down to voting time for the Bakers’ Dozen more than 100 specialists, including artisan bakers, consultants, suppliers, and lecturers, were asked to vote for their favourite artisan bakeries. Each voter was hand-selected by British Baker with the voters broken down by region to ensure bakeries across Britain had an equal opportunity to shine.
An artisan bakery is where baked goods – such as sourdough, bread, buns, pastries, and cakes and more – are made by skilled bakers by hand, often utilising longer and more traditional processes. Quality of ingredients and the end products are high on the agenda, and as a result, artisan bakeries typically only have a handful of sites.
Aidan Monks, co-owner of Lovingly Artisan Bakery commented on winning top spot in the Bakers’ Dozen: ”We were totally shocked to be included in the top 13 let alone being voted the UK’s number one artisan bakery.
“Being named in the top spot is even more special for us knowing that our industry peers have voted for us. Hopefully the fact that we are trying to create the very best bread we can using the finest ingredients available and to put quality, wholesome, healthy breads at the heart of every family table again, has really resonated with them because it’s exactly what they are trying to do too.”
Manchester’s Pollen Bakery, which opened a new unit at Kampus in the city centre in 2022, after the success of its Ancoats’ bakery and café, was placed at number 10. Run by Hannah Calvert and Chris Kelly, Pollen is a sourdough and viennoiserie specialist which champions a long, slow fermentation process with loaves taking 28 hours to produce. Their famed croissants and pain au chocolates take four days to make from start to finish and they regularly introduce new and seasonal additions.
Amy North, British Baker editor said: ”The Bakers’ Dozen celebrates the best of the best. Each bakery on the list has been recognised by others in the industry as a beacon of dedication, passion, and skill, as demonstrated through lovingly handcrafted products and the people who make them.”
The 2023 UK Bakers’ Dozen:
- Lovingly Artisan, Cumbria & Manchester
- The Street Bakeshop, Basingstoke
- E5 Bakehouse, London
- Bread Source, Norfolk
- Bread Ahead Bakery, London
- Northern Rye, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Poppyseed Bakery, Eastbourne
- Peter Cooks Bread, Hereford
- The Dusty Knuckle, London
- Pollen, Manchester
- Fabrique, London
- Levain and Cherry, Birmingham
- Freedom Bakery, Glasgow
Want to try it for yourself? In the run up to Real Bread Week (18th -26th February) multi-award-winning artisan baker Aidan Monks will be joining the team in the Groobarbs Field Kitchen, Cheshire, at lunch time on Friday 17th February.
He will share some of his baking secrets while guests enjoy a selection of his breads, served alongside a five-course seasonal lunch.
Aidan will explain why he makes ‘Real Bread’, baking healthy nourishing loaves using heritage grain varieties and stone-ground flours as well as sharing some insider hints and tips about ‘sourdough’ and ‘slow fermentation.’
As well as having the opportunity to chat with Aidan, diners will also enjoy a seasonal menu, by head chef Mark Price, inspired by the produce grown at Groobarbs Wild Farm.
David Fryer from Groobarbs said: ”I searched all over the markets in the northwest to find the best sourdough. When I found Lovingly Artisan I knew I’d found the best. Their knowledge and provenance is world class, so we had to be their friends.”
Aidan Monks, commented: ”Our relationship with Groobarbs began at Altrincham Market and has grown and developed ever since. Both businesses share the same core values, we both believe in creating the finest produce from the very best ingredients available, which are grown and created sustainably to deliver excellent quality, and above all are nutritious and good for you and your family.”
Book your place for lunch and meet the baker HERE
Groobarbs Field Kitchen set in a working market garden is open every Friday and Saturday, serving a five-course set menu lunch priced at £29.50pp or a tasty five-course dinner priced £33.50pp, and a three-course traditional lunchtime feast served every Sunday priced at £29.50.
