Our Bread Weighers met their match during the 2022 Ale Tasting & Bread Weighing Ceremony
Preceded by a jester and mediaeval musicians the 2022 Ale Tasting and Bread Weighing ceremony proceeded smoothly in spite of the exceptionally hot weather necessitating a period of hydration at one of our excellent inns prior to the event. At least it proceeded smoothly until the Bread Weighers met the Mistress Baker at Rafikis!
After that the strange encounters continued - a hogs head at the Old Exeter, an intriguing pair of baps at the Old Library a Wild Western Landlord at the Bay Horse and thankfully the mic was switched off for the hysterics at Jaded Palates.
The bread auction raised over £240 for public defibrillators in the town
At the bread auction in the Bull Ring after the procession, Court members, residents and visitors bid for the best (and most wholesome) loaves the town has on offer. Several loaves went for over £20, and one (a focaccia by the Ashburton Delicatessen) sold for £38! Overall the bread auction raised over £240 which will help fund new public defibrillators for the town.
Trophies were awarded to the Bay Horse and Rafiki's
The Portreeve's Cup for the Best Dressed Landlord went to the Bay Horse for their effort and their unusual take on the event. The new Portreeve's trophy for the Most Outstanding Baker was awarded to Rafikis - after the Mistress Baker's feisty performance, no one would have dared award it to anyone else!
Thank you to all that took part!
Thanks go to to all the inns and bakeries that took part and also to those who joined the procession and took part in the bread auction that followed! The following inns and bakeries took part this year:
The Silent Whistle (inn)
The Conservative Club (inn)
Ella's (baker)
Coljan (baker)
Rafikis (baker - winner of the Portreeve's trophy for Most Outstanding Baker)
The Old Exeter Inn (inn)
The Old Library (baker)
The Bay Horse (inn - winner of the Portreeve's Cup for Best Dressed Landlord or Landlady)
The Ashburton Deli (baker - biggest fundraising loaf at £38)
Arthur at Taylor's (baker)
Jaded Palates (inn)
Co-op (baker)
Spar (baker)
Thanks also to all those who took great photos of the event and posted them on social media - they help to keep our community vibrant by attracting others to future events. We're particularly grateful to Jonathan Maddicott who offered to photograph the whole event for us. You can see his photos on his website - click here.
See you all again, same time, same place next year!