Bakehouse24

The inaugural New Forest Food & Drink Festival Week ended on a high with Ringwood’s Bakehouse24 scooping the award for Best Contribution to New Forest Food & Drink in 2016.

Sponsored by The New Forest Marque he award was given to Bakehouse24 for their work within the local community in helping to revive and sustain rural breadmaking traditions, together with working with other local producers to help raise the awareness of the importance of supporting local food and drink producers.

Bakehouse24 is an artisan bakery specialising in traditional sourdough methods to produce the finest breads, pastries and cakes. It is the also the first bakery to have been awarded the New Forest Marque for one of its loaves, using flour from a nearby forest Mill.

Since opening just over 1 year ago in Ringwood, this small artisan bakery has firmly integrated itself within the New Forest community. Its growing list of customers – both within local hotels, restaurants and farm shops together with their loyal following to the bakery itself where customers can pop in for a coffee whilst watching the bread being made – makes it a worthy winner.

There were two other finalists at the Gala Dinner held at Rhinefield House Hotel on November 6; Appetite for Adventure – a dynamic catering company with local produce at the heart of their business – and Rosie Lea Kitchen and Bakery, located in Brockenhurst village and at Setley Ridge Vineyard.

Chair of the New Forest Food & Drink Festival, Anthony Climpson, said “It has been extremely difficult to select a winner from the three finalists, as each are worthy winners in their own right either by their use of local produce, their passion for their craft or their support within the local food and drink community.”

“We are delighted to award Bakehouse24 with the Outstanding Contribution accolade, who set a wonderful example to the New Forest food and drink community.”

For more information on restaurants, chefs and produce in The New Forest, visit www.thenewforest.co.uk/food.