Competition Details
2026 Competition - How To Enter
Theme: 'Traditional Chelsea Buns Meets Innovation'
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THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN
View The Winning Chelsea Buns from 2025 →
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to receive information about The World Chelsea Bun Awards 2026​
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It is believed that the first Chelsea Bun was created over 325 years ago in 1700.
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To celebrate this much-loved British classic, the 8th Annual World Chelsea Bun Awards
invites bakers from around the world to create Chelsea Buns with theme:
'Traditional Chelsea Buns Meet Innovation'.
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How To Enter
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Instagram Competition
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Live Tasting Competition in Gloucester Road
The Live Tasting Competition will take place on the Partridges Al Fresco Terrace during the
Gloucester Road 'North' Autumn Festival on Sunday 20 September 2026.
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Instagram Competition
Bake your Chelsea Buns, take a photo of your finished creation and share it on Instagram.
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TO ENTER:
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Post your photo on Instagram using the hashtag #worldchelseabunawards
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State which category you are entering: Amateur Baker or Professional Baker
If your Instagram account is private, or you prefer not to post publicly,
you can instead email your photograph using the link below.
Entry Deadline: 10am on Friday 18th September 2026.
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Prizes:
Amateur Bakers – Prize: £100;
Professional Bakers – Prize: £100. ​
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Live Tasting Competition
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Bring your freshly baked Chelsea Buns to the Partridges Al Fresco Terrace, located outside:
Partridges of Kensington
17–19 Gloucester Road
London SW7 4PL
Alternatively, you may post your entry to the above address.
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Entry Deadline: Deliver your Chelsea Buns between 10am - 12pm on Saturday 20th September,
or if posted to arrive at Partridges by 10am.
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Prize Categories
Enter your Chelsea Buns into one of three categories:
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Children (under 18) - ​​Prize: Bespoke Partridges Hamper filled with delicious treats;
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Adults – Prize: Bespoke Partridges Hamper including Partridges Chelsea Flower Gin or a non-alcoholic alternative;
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Professional Bakers – Prize: Bespoke Partridges Sharing Hamper including Partridges Champagne and
Chelsea Flower Gin or non-alcoholic alternatives.
All category winners will also receive a World Chelsea Bun Awards Winners' Apron,
made by Initially London.
THE OVERALL 'LIVE TASTING' WINNER
will also receive £250 and be named
‘Best Chelsea Bun Baker 2026’.
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Charitable Donations
We warmly invite all entrants to make a donation to our chosen charity:
React Children's Charity
​Every donation, no matter how large or small, helps support the invaluable work these charities do.
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CHELSEA BUN ILLUSTRATION BY LOCAL ARTIST, JULIA PAGE
Welcome to the World Chelsea Bun Awards
Bake-Off Competition ​Hosted by Partridges
in Celebration of World Chelsea Bun Day
In September 2026, Royal Warrant Holder, Partridges, is hosting the eighth annual World Chelsea Bun Awards to celebrate World Chelsea Bun Day.
The Judges
This year's World Chelsea Bun Awards will once again bring together a carefully selected panel of judges. The full judging panel will be unveiled shortly, and we are excited to introduce them soon...
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The Judging
On Saturday 20th September, the judges will taste and judge the Chelsea Buns at Partridges Al Fresco Terrace, Gloucester Road.
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The Results
The winners will be announced at 2pm by John Shepherd, Owner and Managing Director of Partridges. All the results will also be announced on Instagram and on the official website.
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Charitable Donation
The competitions are free to enter but entrants are requested to make a donation to the Award's chosen charity:
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React Children's Charity, which is raising money for to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses living in financially disadvantaged households throughout the UK.
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John Shepherd, Owner and Managing Director of Partridges says... “The first Chelsea Bun was created around 1700 by Richard Hand at the location known as the Old Chelsea Bun House close to Sloane Square. It is generally believed that the Chelsea Bun is the only bun to have ever been granted a Royal Warrant as indicated on an original trade card designed by William Hogarth, no less, in 1718.
Please see image on the right:
Richard Hand trade card (1718). Public domain.
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
​​​​​​​​​​​​The World Chelsea Bun Awards celebrates this historic national treasure and
encourages entrants to embrace creativity while also respecting the
conceptual integrity of the bun. That is why the theme of this year’s
competition, now in its 8th year, is ‘Traditional Chelsea Buns Meet Innovation’.
Entry to the competition is free but we invite all competitors to make a
contribution to this years chosen charity, REACT. This is a local charity that
provides vital support to children suffering from severe disabilities. Over the
past seven years, we have been delighted to raise more than £30,000 through
the World Chelsea Bun Awards, and we hope you have as much fun baking the buns as we have in judging them!
(Partridges will make a separate donation directly to the RWH Charity).”
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History of The Chelsea Bun
Chelsea Buns are a type of currant bun traditionally made from a rich yeast dough flavoured with lemon peel, cinnamon or mixed spice. The first Chelsea Bun was created around 1700 by Richard Hand, proprietor of The Old Chelsea Bun House, who was apparently known as Captain Bun!
The Chelsea Bun House, which was demolished in 1839, is thought to have been located between Pimlico Green and Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea and was famous for its Chelsea Buns. It also did a roaring trade in hot cross buns at Easter and was patronised by customers including King George II, King George III and their families.
About Partridges
The independent family-run food store was founded in 1972 in Sloane Square and celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2022. In 1994 it was granted a Royal Warrant as Grocers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
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In 1998 a second Partridges shop opened on Gloucester Road, Kensington and in 2004 the original shop was relocated to Duke of York Square, Chelsea where it was an important part of the community until it closed in February 2025.
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In 2014 Partridges launched 'Startisans' to help ‘Start-Up Food & Drink’ artisans and operated the vibrant and successful Saturday Market each weekend near its flagship store on Duke of York Square, Chelsea until February 2025.
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In 2019 Partridges launched the World Chelsea Bun Awards to revive the baking of Chelsea Buns in the area and help raise funds and awareness for a local charity.
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In December 2024 Partridges was awarded a Royal Warrant as Grocers to His Majesty King Charles.
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