Member Article

Unusual demand for hot cross buns keeps local baker busy

Most people will be spreading butter or jam on theirs this Easter weekend, but at Belsay Hall in Northumberland, the hot cross buns will be flying through the air. Young visitors to Belsay Hall can take part not only in the usual Easter Egg hunt, but in a hot cross bun throwing challenge with the chance to win family entry to English Heritage sites in the North East for a year.

Other English Heritage properties around the North East are holing hunts as well, with Easter Egg Trails at Chesters Roman Fort, a Medieval Knights Trail at Tynemouth Priory and a Fairy Trail at Warkworth Castle. The trails run from 10am on Saturday 22 March until 5pm on Easter Monday.

Rob Flower, head of visitor operations for English Heritage in the North East, said: “We have several fun filled days planned for all our visitors this Easter weekend. The Easter events mark the start of a bumper series of events throughout the North East in 2008. “The buns were kindly donated to us by a local baker – Trevor Davidson from Davidson’s of Darras Hall, a well-known purveyor of hot cross buns in the area. Even though these particular buns will be thrown, there will also be a range of Easter treats available for consumption in the Belsay tea room.”

Trevor Davidson said: “We’re always busy baking buns at this time of year and while they’re far tastier toasted with butter on top, we are pleased to provide some to English Heritage for this unusual Easter activity.”

The hot cross bun throwing competition runs on Saturday 22, Sunday 23 and Monday 24 March, with special one-hour bun throwing sessions from 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .