Blackmore Vale Magazine 18 April 2003

HONEYBUNS BAKERY BRINGS HIVE OF ACTIVITY TO HOLWELL

When the Vining family sold their listed dairy farm in Holwell, Stony Lane residents were anxious to see who would take it on - would it be weekenders or developers?

Well, it's certainly seen some development in the last few months and the new owners definitely "b'aint from round 'ere," but they were given a sweet enough welcome on Saturday when they held an open day to introduce Honeybuns to the village.
The brainchild of Emma Goss-Custard, Honeybuns started life in the kitchen of her student digs at Oxford where she made cakes and flapjacks and delivered them to customers on an old Post Office bicycle.

The hobby turned to a career and now Emma and her team, which includes husband Matt and brother Duncan, count John Lewis, Harvey Nicholls, Virgin trains, Waterstones and a whole host of museums and cyber cafes amongst their customers.

Exorbitant rents on an industrial unit in Guildford persuaded the team to up-sticks and head to the country.

Naish Farm provided the perfect alternative, and with the help of a grant from DEFRA and support from Dorset conservation officer, David Chiplen, they have now converted the old milking parlour into a fully functioning bakery, employing staff from the immediate area.

Honeybuns cakes, flapjacks, buns, cookies and pies have one common theme, as Emma explains: "Good, honest, but deluxe, store cupboard ingredients."

The emphasis is very much on taste and high quality, with everything handmade in the same way as we would in our own kitchens - just on a bigger scale.

Denhay butter and organic eggs are the staples of the bakery, lovingly combined with luscious ingredients such as Lavazza coffee, Vahlrona chocolate, organic lemon zest and plump Australian raisins.

Though Soil Association products are used, Emma is reluctant to claim an organic bias. "We only use organic where we can really taste the difference, like in the case of the organic apricots for our ginger and apricot slice."

All products are however, free from any added preservatives, artificial colourings, flavourings or genetically modified ingredients.

Honeybuns also have a strong reputation for their gluten free range which includes a chocolate, prune and almond cake. A National Gluten Free award and a Gold for their lemon cake in the Great Taste Awards at Olympia are amongst the certificates that line the office walls.

Many of the recipes have been handed down from her mother and grandmother or gleaned from friends. The stock list evolves as the team experiments with new ideas and a special cake being sold in aid of CancerCare Dorset is currently on the menu.

For more information about goodies from Honeybuns visit www.wemadeitourselves.com