This year’s bake-off will be judged by Lady Frederick Windsor, also known as the actress Sophie Winkleman, and the actress and cake expert Jane Asher, both patrons of The Children’s Surgery Foundation. Joining them as judges will be John Shepherd, the owner of Partridges Fine Foods, and Munther Haddad, the Chairman of The Children’s Surgery Foundation and a Senior Consultant Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon.
The Awards include an Instagram competition and a live tasting event taking place at Partridges in Chelsea, in support of The Children’s Surgery Foundation. Entry to both competitions is free, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to the charity.
For the Instagram Competition, bakers are invited to craft ‘Floral-Themed’ Chelsea Buns or Chelsea Bun Flowers, and post photographs of them on Instagram using the hashtag #worldchelseabunawards and tagging @world.chelsea.bun.awards. Entries can also be submitted via the official website. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 17th May. Those who submit images by the ‘Early Entry’ Deadline of Sunday 21st April will be included in the ‘Floral Feasts’ display at Partridges, during Chelsea in Bloom week.
The ‘Live Tasting’ Competition takes place at Partridges, on Saturday 18th May, with entries needing to be delivered to the shop by 9:30am that morning.
Entrants can compete in one of three categories, Under 18s, Adult or Professional Bakers. The three winners of the Instagram competition will receive £100 each and winners of the live tasting competitions will receive bespoke Partridges Hampers and embroidered World Chelsea Bun Award aprons, kindly donated by Initially London. There will also be £250 for the Supreme World Chelsea Bun Awards Champion.
Chelsea Buns will be judged on their taste/appearance, originality, creativity and presentation… and this year their floral twist to coincide with the Floral Feasts theme for Chelsea in Bloom taking place during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show week.
The winners of the ‘Live Tasting’ Competition will be announced at Partridges on Saturday 18th May at 3:30pm, with all results announced on Instagram and the official website on Monday 20th May.
For more information and to enter, visit www.worldchelseabunawards.com
John Shepherd, Owner and Managing Directory of Partridges says… “The first Chelsea Bun was created around 1700 by Richard Hand close to Partridges in Duke of York Square, Chelsea. Richard, known as Captain Bun, ran The Old Chelsea Bun House which was famous for its Chelsea Buns and counted King George II, King George III and their families amongst its customers. We are delighted to hold the World Chelsea Bun Awards for the sixth year running and hope they will once again revive the baking of Chelsea Buns in the area, and around the world, as well as raise funds and awareness for The Children’s Surgery Foundation. To date, the World Chelsea Bun Awards has raised over £18,500 for the charity’s Beam Campaign.
As a judge of this year’s competition, I am very much looking forward to seeing the range and variety of ‘Floral Themed’ Chelsea Buns. We are hoping to receive entries from all over the country and all over the world and I expect that people will add popular local ingredients as well as ingredients which match their own dietary preferences and creative twists, resulting in a rich assortment of Chelsea Buns.”
Jane Asher says… “I’m so pleased that our important charity is going to benefit once more from the exciting World Chelsea Bun Awards. I have the honour of being a judge for this very special competition, and I would urge anyone who enjoys baking to join in and have a go with their version of the famous, delicious treat. Not only will it be fun, but at the same time you will be helping to relieve the potential pain and distress experienced by children undergoing surgery. I do hope you will join us.”
COMPETITION WEBSITE – www.worldchelseabunawards.com
Instagram: @world.chelsea.bun.awards
Hashtag: #worldchelseabunawards24