Future looks golden for Allerton Bywater baking business

The Butcher and The Baker in Allerton Bywater has been awarded the 2021 Good Food gong for its “exceptional levels of food quality, service and value”.

And customers will now find it even easier to snap up one of their famous pies, as well as turkeys and other goodies ready for Christmas, with the launch of a new online ordering system at www.thebutcherandthebaker.co.uk.

Co-owners Heather Gilbert and Paul Alderman said it was humbling to read the feedback from those who had voted for them to win the coveted new accolade.

“It was lovely to have that recognition after the hard work of the past two years,” she says. “We have been blown away by some of the reviews – it felt like it was worth all those long nights. It was genuinely humbling to know that our products are being enjoyed by people.”

Heather and partner Paul set up the shop two years ago after combining their sweet and savoury baking businesses following a meeting at a farmers’ market in 2016.

The shop has built a glowing reputation for its locally sourced products, which include pickles, oils, bread, cakes and home-baked pies as well as the butcher’s fare on offer.

“We knew when we set up the shop that it wasn’t worth doing if we couldn’t promote Yorkshire produce,” says Heather, who grew up in Allerton Bywater.

“From our eggs to oils, they are all Yorkshire-based – items like the preserves and the pickles are from people we know from working at farmers’ markets for years. So many small producers have had a difficult year so it’s great to be able to showcase their great food in our shop, though it’s getting a bit packed in there!”

The Yorkshire-reared meat comes from Rawdon-based John Penny and Sons and the family-run Woodlands of Pudsey with the emphasis on traceability, adds Heather. “Customers want to know where their food is coming from and rightly so. If it’s grown or made in Yorkshire then we’re happy.”

During the first lockdown of 2020, Paul and Heather worked round the clock to make sure local residents had food deliveries if they needed them. And the new online ordering system now makes it even easier for people to get what they want without having to queue, or even leave the house.

With a growing number of awards under their belt, including Class Champion and Highly Commended at the 2019 British Pie Awards for Paul’s Steak and Ale (in a wholegrain mustard pastry) pie and Minty Lamb Hotpot Pie creations, it looks like 2021 will be an even busier year for the duo.

All this is good news for customers, with even more delicious homemade products for Christmas and beyond at the touch of a button.

Find out more at www.thebutcherandthebaker.co.uk.