The votes have been pouring in for the Lancashire Telegraph’s Best Bakery 2024 competition - and today is the final chance to have your say.
All the shortlisted bakeries have been profiled over the past 10 days and readers have been voting for their favourite by picking up copies of the Lancashire Telegraph.
Those in the running to be crowned Lancashire Telegraph’s Best Bakery are:
Martins Bakery: Having been in the family for three generations the Oswaldtwistle favourite has only used quality ingredients to create their popular range of pies and tarts. Tradition is everything as staff continue to use the same recipes from 1898.
Becky’s Bakery: With a passion for the industry and meeting new people every day, Becky Hobkirk opened her Ramsgreave shop in January 2023. Her selection of hot sandwiches has made her a popular choice and the stand-out Lotus Biscoff flapjack and almond slices continue to be a staple for customers.
Stables Pies: The Barrow pie merchants, where the whole family is involved, have continued to supply East Lancashire shops with their famed pork pies. They also run many pop-up events that provide special twists on customers' favourite recipes.
The Crown and Thistle Bakery: Having grown during the pandemic, the Darwen bakery has become a quick hit with locals with stand-out cakes including the 11-inch éclair. Providing a modern twist on traditional baking roots they have refused to move to mass production despite their success.
The Crust: With a vast array of sourdoughs, the Rawtenstall bakery stays true to classic Polish baking and has become a Christmas staple for its enormous mince pies. Having fallen into the industry, they continue to treat visitors to Rawtenstall Market with sweet treats including a Szarlotka, a Polish apple cake.
Handcrafted Pie Company: Forming during the pandemic to support the elderly and the homeless, the Rishton Pie Merchants continue to provide top-quality recipes made by a professional chef. Famed for their peppered steak suet puddings they deliver directly to your front door or through the post.
The Moorings Bakery: Facing high demand for their pork, meat and potato, and cheese and onion pies the Blackburn bakery is continuing to go from strength to strength. The third-generation bakery involves all the family and often sells out before it closes.
The Pie Hole: Offering a completely different flavour profile, the Darwen bakery provides a range of different pies including Philly Cheesesteak and lamb dinner. Having already picked up multiple British Pie Awards they have gone from feeding hungry golfers to a popular wider choice.
Village Bakery: Having been in the family for almost 80 years, the Mellor Brook bakery continues to stick to traditional recipes and customers can get bread straight out of the oven. Their delicious steak pies and Bakewell tarts are made fresh every morning and the bakery delivers to those struggling during the pandemic.
Z’Pies and Pasties: The Nelson bakery where the community is everything and donates 5 per cent of profits to local charities. Having gone viral for their pistachio and white chocolate croissant, they provide free meals to the homeless and support people with mental health difficulties and children with disabilities.
Readers can vote by picking up a copy of the Lancashire Telegraph today, with the winner announced the week commencing September 23.
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