GREAT COUNTRY BAKERIES
1 LEAKERS BAKERY BRIDPORT, DORSET
Open since 1914, Leakers still boasts original 1950s fittings and brick-floored ovens. As well as hand-moulded hot cross buns, Easter treats include simnel slices with marzipan and local orchard apples. leakersbakery.co.uk
2 WYE BAKEHOUSE BAKEWELL, DERBYSHIRE
This Peak District bakery uses an early 20th-century recipe for its hot cross buns, soaking the currants in cinnamon tea before adding a little saffron to the warm milk prior to mixing. wyebakehouse.com
3 ANGEL BAKERY ABERGAVENNY, MONMOUTHSHIRE
Part of the Angel Hotel next door, this bakery sells delicious hot cross buns. This year, they’ll also be making the traditional Italian Easter cake colomba di pasqua. angelabergavenny.com
4 WILD HEARTH BAKERY COMRIE, PERTHSHIRE
In the remote village of Comrie on the edge of the Scottish Highlands, this wood-fired bakery specialises in sourdough hot cross buns made by head baker Em Hart. wildhearthbakery.com
5 BREAD AND ROSES POWBURN, NORTHUMBERLAND
Essentially a bread bakery, Bread and Roses baker Andrew Smith will be taking his renowned hot cross buns to the Easter farmers’ markets at Hexham and Morpeth. breadandroses.co.uk
6 STAG BAKERY STORNOWAY, ISLE OF LEWIS
Baking on the outer Hebridean island of Lewis since 1885, Stag is best known for its oatcakes and seaweed biscuits but it also produces hot cross buns to a traditional recipe. stagbakeries.co.uk
7 HAMBLETON BAKERY OAKHAM, RUTLAND
Owned by restauranteur Tim Hart and 10th-generation baker Julian Carter, this award-winning bakery only sells hot cross buns for four weeks around Easter, alongside simnel cakes. hambletonbakery.co.uk
8 TALGARTH MILL TALGARTH, POWYS
In the heart of the Brecon Beacons, this bakery is next to the restored mill that now produces a range of wholemeal flours. As well as buns, Easter brings challah, a traditional Jewish plaited loaf. talgarthmill.com
9 HOBBS HOUSE CHIPPING SODBURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
This family-run Cotswold bakery was established in the 1920s and this year sees the relaunch of an Easter chocolate sourdough bread alongside Easter biscuits, hot cross buns and simnel cake. hobbshousebakery.co.uk