Stoke Row Village Hall
Saturday 6th December 2025

Grab your apron and dust off your rolling pin! Imma the bakery is launching Stoke Row’s first Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Competition, and we're extending the warmest of invitations to the whole community to join in the festive fun. This is your chance to show off your festive baking prowess, embrace the holiday spirit, and, most importantly, support Stoke Row Primary School! Every single penny raised will go directly to the school.

Key Dates & How to Get Involved

Who can enter:

Everyone! From the keenest amateur to the seasoned professional. All ages are welcome to join the festive bake-off.

How to enter:

Register to enter at the Imma The Bakery counter or by calling the team on:

01491 756599.

Entry fee:

£20 per gingerbread house. This includes your Gingerbread House Kit (Only Dry Ingredients)

Entry Deadline:

Register by Friday 28th November, 2pm. Don't miss the cutoff!

Drop off your entry:

Bring your creation to Stoke Row Village Hall on Friday 5th December between 5pm and 7pm

Competition Day:

Saturday 6th December - Judging 11am, doors open and everyone welcome 11.30- 2pm. Winners announced at 12.30pm. Collect all gingerbread creations by 2pm.

The Rules of the Bake

To keep things fair and focused on fun, please note these rules:

The Kit is Your Starting Point: Your £20 entry fee covers a kit with all the dry ingredients, a reliable recipe, and templates for construction. The recipe is included so you can bake extra bits or start again in case of an unfortunate oven disaster or an over-enthusiastic sibling!

Edible Only: We insist that every visible part of your creation must be edible (the base/platter is the only exception). This includes all structure, icing, windows, and
decorations.

Your Own Decorations: While we provide the dry ingredients, template and instructions of your gingerbread kit, the final decoration is entirely down to your own brilliant imagination! Go mad with sweets, sprinkles and icing.

The Professionals' Challenge: Entrants in the Professionals category must demonstrate their expertise by selecting and recreating a building from a pre-selected list of notable
Stoke Row and area structures. This list will be provided upon registration, with buildings assigned on a strict first-come, first-served basis.

Competition Categories

Prizes will be hotly contested across three main categories:

1. Under 14s: Open to all children aged 13 and under. A bit of help from an adult or older sibling is entirely permissible!
2. 14 and Over: Open to all amateur bakers aged 14 and up. Creations must be the sole work of the entrant.
3. Professionals: For those who earn a primary income from baking, pastry, or catering. Time to show the locals how it's done by tackling a local landmark.

The Awards On Offer

Our fantastic panel of judges will be awarding these coveted prizes:

• The Best of the Best: The overall grand prize for the single, highest-scoring house of the day.
  
• The Most Christmas Spirit: Awarded to the house that simply oozes festive cheer and joy.
  
• Best House (Under 14s): For the highest technical skill and execution in the junior category.
  
• The Wild Card (Under 14s): For the most imaginative and original junior creation.
  
• Best House (14 & Over): For the highest technical skill and execution in the amateur adult category.
  
• The Wild Card (14 & Over): For the most imaginative and original amateur adult creation.
  
• Best House (Professionals): For the highest technical skill and execution in the professional category.
  
• The Wild Card (Professionals): For the most original and imaginative professional creation.

Meet Our Esteemed Judging Panel

We are thrilled and honoured to welcome this marvellous collection
of local culinary legends and community figures:

• Golda Rosheuvel – Renowned Actress (Queen Charlotte: A
  Bridgerton Story)
  
• Tom Buckley – The Mayor of Henley-on-Thames
  
• Tonatiuh Erreguin – Head Chef, Imma The Bakery
• Ben Watson – Head Chef & Proprietor, The Golden Ball
• Paul Clerehugh – Chef & Proprietor, The Crooked Billet
• Jez Felwick – Founder, The Bowler & Swaadish Curry
• Tomas Martin - Peak and Stone Bakery

Festive fun and community spirit

Our Gingerbread Competition promises to be a wonderfully warm and Christmassy event bringing an extra touch of festive sparkle to the village. Once the scores are tallied, everyone is invited to admire the spectacular Gingerbread Model Village created by our talented competitors!

Join us at the Stoke Row Village Hall on Saturday, December 6th, from 11.30am - 2pm. Everyone is welcome to pop in for a drink or a snack while enjoying the festive display and cheering on the winners.

Let's make this first Gingerbread House competition a roaring success and a much loved Stoke Row tradition!

Register your entry by Friday 28th November, 2pm and help us support Stoke Row Primary School! 

Please note, we will be unable to keep any gingerbread houses not collected by 2pm on competition day so don’t forget to pick yours up!

See you there!