In 2026, our Bakehouse Noir sourdough was awarded three stars at the Great Taste Awards, run by the Guild of Fine Food.
For a small microbakery that began in my home kitchen, the recognition felt quite surreal.
Bakehouse Noir is our original boule, made darker and slightly sweeter, with cocoa and bittersweet chocolate bringing richness and depth. I wanted to create something a little different, a loaf that sits somewhere between sweet and savoury, with the character of our traditional sourdough at its heart.
I decided to enter it into Great Taste, never imagining that my very first entry would receive the highest accolade.
Great Taste products are judged blind by panels of food experts, with taste at the heart of the assessment. Three stars recognise food considered extraordinary in taste and quality, with fewer than 2% of entries typically achieving this rating.
To have a loaf made by my own hands receive that recognition was overwhelming. Every stage of Bricknell Bakehouse, from mixing and shaping to scoring and baking, has been built through learning, hard work and determination.
There is no big production line behind our bread. It's made by hand, in small batches, with care taken over every loaf.
This award gave me something I hadn't realised I needed: a real confidence boost.
Directory - Guild of Fine Food
Crusty but good.