Bakers, get oven ready – the great annual World Chelsea Bun Awards are upon us.
Now in its seventh year, the Bun Awards is one of Chelsea’s sweetest and most popular traditions – and everyone is invited to get baking.
The challenge is to bake a traditional Chelsea bun — but with your own modern twist. The competition is free to enter, although entrants are asked to make a donation to either of the two chosen charities: The Children’s Surgery Foundation and The Felix Project.
‘This is about celebrating Chelsea’s history and having fun together,’ said Partridges owner John Shepherd. ‘We want people to rediscover the joy of Chelsea buns — and share it with the world.’
Square sticky Chelsea buns, famous for their currants and cinnamon flavour, were first created in 1700 at the Old Bun House on the borders of Chelsea and Pimlico. Legend has it that 50,000 people queued to buy them on the first day they come out of the ovens.
The modern day competition is open to both amateurs and professionals, with an array of prizes up for grabs in each category – plus a year’s worth of insufferable bragging rights for being crowned Best Chelsea Bun Baker 2025! Full entry details can be found here. This year will also see a parallel Instagram competition.
The judges are: actress Sophie Winkleman (aka, Lady Frederick Windsor), actress Jane Asher, John Shepherd, Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea Tom Bennett, and Toto Dell’Aringa from The Felix Project. A full list of guest judges is here.
Actress Sophie Winkleman
Actress and star cake baker Jane Asher
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- The Old Chelsea Bun House
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- The Bun awards raise funds for two worthy charities
The big competition day will be held at Holy Trinity Church on Sloane Square on Saturday, 27th September. Bakers can drop off their buns between 10am and 12pm, while Instagram hopefuls must post their creations by 10am the day before.
This year’s results are “going global”. Chelsea buns will be baked and served during a ‘British Fair’ at a department store in Osaka, Japan, in mid-October where the results will be announced.
So, bakers – it’s time to roll out those rolling pins, turn up the ovens, and get those buns rising. Whether fruity, sticky, or spicy, make yours with an original twist and your creation could be this year’s show stopper.
Full entry details at www.worldchelseabunawards.com.
For the Instagram competition use the hashtag #worldchelseabunawards
