Lovingly Artisan at Altrincham Market is a finalist five times at the 2026 Baking Industry Awards, and MOST Bakery's Matt Townley is up for Baker of the Year.
Two Altrincham bakeries between them hold six finalist places at this year’s Baking Industry Awards, the trade’s national awards run by the magazine British Baker. The winners are named on Wednesday 25 November at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
Lovingly Artisan, which trades at Altrincham Market, is a finalist in five categories. MOST Bakery on Cross Street has one: its founder, Matt Townley, is one of only three finalists for Baker of the Year.
The full shortlist is on the awards’ own finalists page.
Where the two bakeries are shortlisted
| Category | Finalist | Bakery |
|---|---|---|
| Baker of the Year | Matt Townley | MOST Bakery |
| Bakery Leader of the Year | Aidan Monks, director | Lovingly Artisan |
| New Bakery Product of the Year | Ginger & Marmalade Sourdough Bake | Lovingly Artisan |
| Speciality Bread Product of the Year | Wholemeal Barber Wheat Sourdough | Lovingly Artisan |
| Sustainability Initiative of the Year | Lovingly Artisan Full Circle | Lovingly Artisan |
| Team of the Year | The bakery’s team | Lovingly Artisan |
MOST Bakery: one of three for Baker of the Year
Matt Townley is a former teacher. He founded MOST Bakery with his wife, Suze, in 2022, according to British Baker’s finalist profile. The other two finalists are Daniel Girling of Bread Source and Gary Kadas of Seven Seeded.
The profile says he still runs the bread team himself and spends time mentoring younger bakers. The judges singled out his commitment to training young people who want a career in baking.
It is the bakery’s second national result this year. Its Multiseed Sourdough won the Seeded Sourdough category at Britain’s Best Loaf 2026 in April. The judges called it a “great looking loaf with a lovely flavour to match”.
British Baker also notes that MOST recently opened a venue at the local leisure centre. The Food Standards Agency register lists two MOST Bakery sites in Altrincham, both rated 5:
- 3-5 Cross Street, WA14 1EQ, the original bakery
- Oakfield Road, WA15 8EW, the newer site
Lovingly Artisan: five finalist places
Lovingly Artisan bakes and mills its own flour in Cumbria, near Kendal. Its Altrincham outlet is at Altrincham Market on Greenwood Street, open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7.30am to 4pm, according to the bakery’s own website.
Co-founder Aidan Monks has twice been named Baker of the Year. This year he is shortlisted for the new Bakery Leader of the Year award. British Baker’s profile quotes him: “I lead from alongside my team rather than from a distance.” The judges called him a “capable and highly respected leader”.
The Wholemeal Barber Wheat Sourdough is made from a grain the American chef Dan Barber gave to a UK wheat farmer, who grows it organically for the bakery. Lovingly Artisan mills it on its own stone mill. The loaf is sold as a whole, half or quarter miche. The judges said they “loved the appearance and the story behind the loaf”, British Baker reported.
The awards’ finalist list does not describe the Ginger & Marmalade Sourdough Bake or the Full Circle sustainability entry beyond their names.
What it means for you
Both bakeries are in the town centre and both sell to the public most days of the week. You can try the shortlisted loaves before the result:
- MOST Bakery, 3-5 Cross Street. Check the bakery’s own channels for current opening hours before a special trip.
- Lovingly Artisan, Altrincham Market, Greenwood Street. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 7.30am to 4pm.
We will report the results after the ceremony on 25 November.
For more on what is on in town this month, see our Altrincham what’s on listing, and for the latest inspection results, our September food hygiene round-up.
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