Lady Sophie Windsor, also known as the actress Sophie Winkleman, and actress and cake expert Jane Asher, who are both patrons of The Children’s Surgery Foundation, will judge the World Chelsea Bun Awards this year. Other judges will include John Shepherd, owner of Partridges Fine Foods and Munther Haddad, the Chairman of The Children’s Surgery Foundation and a Senior Consultant Paediatric and Neonatal Surgeon.
This year for the 5th annual bake-off there will be both an Instagram Competition plus a Live Tasting Competition at Partridges in Chelsea. Although both competitions are free to enter bakers are encouraged to make a donation to the chosen charity, The Children’s Surgery Foundation.
To enter the Instagram Competition all bakers need to do is make some Chelsea Buns, photograph them and post the photo on Instagram using the hashtag #worldchelseabunawards and tag in @world.chelsea.bun.awards or email their photograph via https://www.worldchelseabunawards.com/ The competition closes at 5pm on Wednesday 17th May and the winner will receive a Partridges Hamper full of treats, a Partridges Certificate and a World Chelsea Bun Awards apron donated by Initially London.
To enter the Live Tasting Competition bakers need to bring or post their Chelsea Buns to Partridges, 2-5 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, London SW3 4LY, to arrive by 5pm on Friday 19th May. Chelsea Buns can be entered into one of three categories: Children (under 18); Adults and Professional Bakers. Winners of each category will receive a bespoke Partridges hamper, a certificate, a World Chelsea Bun Awards Winners Apron from Initially London and the overall winner will become ‘The Supreme Champion Chelsea Bun Baker 2023’. On Saturday 20th May Lady Sophie Windsor, JohnShepherd and Munther Haddad will taste and judge the Chelsea Buns at Partridges in Duke of York Square. The buns will then be taken to The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond for Jane Asher to judge them. Jane is performing the lead role in Somerset Maugham’s 1921 comedy The Circle from 29th April – 17th June 2023.
Buns in both competitions will be judged on how appetising they look, the originality/creativity of the recipe and the presentation/plating.
The winners will be announced on Instagram and at
https://www.worldchelseabunawards.com/ on Monday 22nd May 2022.
John Shepherd, Owner and Managing Directory of Partridges says…“The first Chelsea Bun was created around 1700 by Richard Hand close to Partridges’ store 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 be holding the World Chelsea Bun Awards for the fifth year running and hope they will revive the baking of Chelsea Buns and help raise funds and awareness for The Children’s Surgery Foundation.”
Jane Asher says… “This wonderful charity is very close to my heart: it does so much to alleviate the potential pain and distress involved when little ones have to go through the trauma of surgery. Baking some delicious Chelsea Buns is a delightful way of raising money to enable us to do more, and I hope lots of you will join us in having a go.”
