The Second Annual Stoke Row Gingerbread House Competition
Stoke Row Village Hall – Saturday 5th December 2026
Grab your apron and dust off your rolling pin!
Following the resounding success of our inaugural bake-off, Imma The Bakery is thrilled to announce Stoke Row’s Second Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Competition. We are 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, learn from national award-winning artisans, 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 at the Imma The Bakery counter or by calling the team on 01491 756599.
Entry Fee: £20 per gingerbread house. This includes your complete Gingerbread House Kit (dough, instructions and templates).
Entry Deadline: Register by Friday 27th November 2026, 2:00 PM. Don't miss the cutoff!
Drop-Off Your Entry: Bring your creation to Stoke Row Village Hall on Friday 4th December 2026 between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM.
Competition Day: Saturday 5th December 2026. Judging commences at 11:00 AM. Doors open to the public from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. Winners announced at 1:30 PM.
Collection: Collect all gingerbread creations by 2:00 PM.
The Rules of the Bake
To keep things fair, fun, and focused on community spirit, please observe these rules:
The Kit is Your Starting Point: Your £20 entry fee covers a kit with gingerbread dough, and templates for construction. The recipe is included so you can bake extra components or start again in case of an unfortunate home oven mishap!
Edible Only: 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, templates, and recipe, 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:
Under 14s: Open to all children aged 13 and under. A bit of help from an adult or older sibling is entirely permissible.
14 and Over: Open to all amateur bakers aged 14 and up. Creations must be the sole work of the entrant.
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 panel of judges will be awarding these coveted prizes across all entry levels:
The Best of the Best: The overall grand prize for the single, highest-scoring house of the day across all criteria.
The Most Christmas Spirit: Awarded to the house that simply oozes festive cheer, story, and warmth.
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 honoured to welcome back a stellar panel of local culinary figures, national baking personalities, and community leaders (Full 2026 line-up to be announced shortly):
Festive Fun & Community Spirit
Our 2nd Annual 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, 5th December 2026, from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM.
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 second edition an even bigger success for our village tradition!
Register your entry by Friday 27th November, 2:00 PM and help us support Stoke Row Primary School!
Please note: We will be unable to store or keep any gingerbread houses not collected by 2:00 PM on competition day, so please ensure you collect your creation.
