Britain's best bakery - Hambleton Bakery

Hambleton Bakery is a superb bakery in Rutland. Just over a year ago it gained the title of Britain's Best Bakery in a competition run by ITV.

Master baker Julian Carter, was formerly a chef at Hambleton Hall - which is a Michelin starred country house hotel overlooking Rutland Water. 

When Tim Hart (joint owner of the hotel) decided to start a bakery, Julian (who's family used to make Bath Oliver biscuits and can trace his ten previous generations of bakers back as far as 1785) was an obvious choice to run it.  

In September Julian Carter was also declared "Baker of the Year" at the Bakery Industry Awards and, having tasted his products, I know why.

Their hand-made bread includes Hambleton Local, made with local beer barm, and a half white, half wholemeal flour from Whissendine Mill. 

I've tried most of their breads (there's quite a selection):

and can recommend everything I've had!  

They do spelt bread, sourdough:

 and these English muffins:

There's savouries like Mediterranean tart, seasonal quiche and their Rutland Pippin, which was a new product inspired by local ingredient that they created for the Britain's best bakery competition:

The Rutland Pippin is baked in the shape of an apple, is filled with ham hock, apple and quince purée and Colston Bassett Stilton.

If you've got a sweet tooth, there's delicious lemon or treacle tarts.  

When I called last summer, these delicious small strawberry tarts:

were consumed before I even got home!

To sum up, Hambleton Bakery are passionate about what they do, and make amazing bread and cakes with quality local ingredients. 

Hambleton Bakery
Cottesmore Road
Exton
Oakham
Rutland
LE15 8AN

Tel: 01572 812995

Web: www.hambletonbakery.co.uk