Sevenoaks bakers rise to the challenge

Published: 04 June 2025

There are now at least nine local Artisan Bakers in Sevenoaks, making and baking cakes, buns and patisseries in our cafes, for our markets and delivering to homes. We set out to show them off to the French visitors from our twin town Pontoise this weekend.

The challenge went out to local bakers. Let the French visitors taste your best cakes, buns and patisserie, and score them using the framework of the ‘Meilleure Boulangerie’ (best bakery) competition on French TV. Five were able to take part...some were on half term holiday.

The standard for all the bakers was outstanding. Every single Sevenoaks baker was judged top by at least one of our team of ten tasters, and it was hard to pick winners. All scores were within one or two points, but we got a decision.

• Best patisserie in Sevenoaks is Dulce's in Blighs - their Ispahan macaroon patisserie was judged by our guests to be exceptional.

• Prize for the best cake went to Kake & Kocktail in St Johns Hill, whose banoffee cake disappeared before I got a chance to taste it.

• The best cinnamon bun on the day was Rafferty's in Hollybush Lane.

• Special awards were also given for great cake by Scarlett Patiserie, Rafferty’s and Dulce's, and for great buns by Buntastic.

Many thanks to the bakers who took part for their generous help and their brilliant cakes, and to Malabar for allowing us to run the tasting in their Shambles courtyard.

Our French visitors were truly impressed. If you want great cake, Sevenoaks is the place with lots of choice!

Cllr Tony Clayton

Sevenoaks Town Mayor