Licensees host Great British Bake Off events

Licensees are encouraging local amateur cooks and chefs to get in the kitchen and take inspiration from the BAFTA award winning baking programme to find the area’s best baker.

The BBC One show, hosted by Sue Perkins and Melanie Giedroyc is now in its fifth series. The show, which is on at present, is judged by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and is set for its finale on 8 October.

Barnes Bake Off​

Young’s pub the White Hart in Barnes, south west London is hosting its second Great British Barnes Bake off, with all proceeds on the day going to a local charity.

Locals are being invited to take part in the competition on 13 September and enter into a number of categories including perfect pastry, Victoria sponge, cupcake creations and Barnes beauty. There are also two categories for junior bakers.

Chloe Tyrrell, marketing coordinator at the White Hart, said: “It’s our version of the Great British Bake Off.

“We had contributions and donations from all the local businesses in Barnes for prizes and we had such a wonderful turnout last time. We’ve had a lot of interest already for this next event and hope to raise as much as possible for charity.”

The pub has this year enlisted the help of award-winning master patissier Eric Lanlard to pass judgment over the locals’ baked goods.

Great Horton Kirby Bake Off​

At the Fighting Cocks in Horton Kirby in Kent, part of the Wellington Pub Company, licensee Chris Maskery is looking to hold the pubs inaugural bake off competition in October for the locals to show off their culinary skills.

Maskery has developed a first-come-first-served concept in which the first 10 entrants into the competition will get to compete – meaning locals need to register quickly as places are tight.

“Doing it this way means it will create interest and we can do another one next year. It gets the interest levels up and will get people talking,” said Maskery.

The bake off will be judged by the pubs three chefs with the winning dish then being placed on the pubs main menu for three months.

“We try and do something a bit different here for the community. The winner will receive a case of wine, a meal for two and more importantly will have their name up in lights,” said Maskery.

All money generated at the Great Horton Kirby Bake Off will go to Cancer Research.

Build your own bakery​

Everards pub the Bakers Arms in Blaby, Leicestershire, has been raising money to help build a bakery for an orphanage in Malawi.

The team plan to build and open the bakery at the orphanage which homes over 100 children and plan on teaching them how to bake and sell bread to earn a living.

Fundraising activities included a team parachute jump and a garden party fun day at the pub in June that featured stalls, games, raffles, live music and an array of local beers and ciders.

Following the trend​

Aside from hosting baking competitions, the trend in pubs installing bakeries and selling baked goods on site is increasing.

Urban Leisure Group’s newly opened venue Ask for Janice in Farringdon, London, features a takeaway pastry counter that serves a range of breakfast options such as pancakes and sourdough toast.

BrewDog’s new site in Dundee, which opened June this year, features beer infused cakes baked by local bakery Jessie’s Kitchen while Antic pub the Graveney and Meadow in Tooting, south London, has an onsite bakery and buttery serving an assortment of homemade rustic breads and cakes.