We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Original Biscuit Bakers Gingerbread Heritage Trail.

Commenting on their headline sponsorship of the heritage trail and contest Director of Original Biscuit Baker, Sarah Hopcroft, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue supporting the Heritage Gingerbread Trail at the Ginger & Spice Festival. It’s such a special part of Market Drayton’s history and a wonderful way to engage families and the wider community. Every year we’re amazed by the creativity and imagination on display, and it’s a joy to see the town come alive with gingerbread characters. Supporting the trail allows us to celebrate our gingerbread heritage while also helping to create lasting memories for everyone who takes part.”

Commenting on judging the contest Mayor of Market Drayton, Councillor Tim Manton said: “It was a great honour and a great pleasure to assist in judging this year’s Original Biscuit Baker’s Heritage Gingerbread Trail. The Ginger & Spice Festival is a premier event in Market Drayton and of great value to our Town. Thank you to Nick and Carol for being my ‘co Judges’, their historical knowledge was not only immensely interesting but also added greatly to the day.”

Judge Carol Ford of Acton Scott Heritage Farm said: “It was a pleasure on our first visit ever to Market Drayton, to walk the streets of what is a very nice, historic little town, and to see how much care, pride and community spirit there is on the part of local traders, charities and other organisations… and of course, to meet and talk with you good folk as well. Markets, and high street traders, and regular fairs and festivals, have been the backbone of our economy since Roman times, but are now under threat as never before – and if we allow them to go under and disappear, a huge piece of our traditional way of life and our social identity will be lost beyond recovery. Events such as the Ginger & Spice Festival deserve everyone’s support to maintain the life and vitality – and the fun – of small town Britain. It was a privilege – and a surprisingly difficult task – to help judge so many imaginative and colourful entries.”

Our esteemed judges and sponsor left to right:

Market Drayton Mayor – Councillor Tim Manton, Carol and Nick Ford -Acton Scott Heritage Farm, and Sarah Hopcroft – Director of Original Biscuit Bakers (sponsor).

Nick and Carol Ford assisted the Market Drayton Mayor with judging the Mayor’s prize.

Winner of both categories Mayor’s & People’s choice: Charlotte Lowndes of Beauty by Charlotte

Volunteers Jane Moore and Julie Pryce who managed the trail

“We had such a wonderful day at this year’s Ginger and Spice Festival and met so many lovely children and families who came to our stand to collect their entry forms for the Gingerbread Heritage Trail. The town’s streets were filled with excited trail-goers discovering the most charming characters in shop windows, along with some truly fantastic displays. It must have been extremely difficult to choose the winners this year as the standard was excellent!

We noticed even more families and adults collecting maps this time, which was brilliant to see. Everyone who visited our stall had nothing but praise for the Ginger & Spice Festival as a whole – with many saying how much they loved this year’s theme and the incredible shop and business window displays across town. This lovely event definitely brought a real buzz to our friendly little town, and we both feel proud to have been a part of it again. We’ve already put our names down to help next year and can’t wait to see you all again in 2026.”

Winner: ‘Marilyn Monroe’ by Beauty by Charlotte (Queen Street)

“It was the first year I have taken part and I had my little boy who helped and got really involved in making Marilyn. I was really pleased that we have both the people’s vote and the Mayor’s vote. It is such a great event for the town and brings so many people in and I will definitely be taking part next year.”

Charlotte Lowndes, Beauty by Charlotte

Joint Runner Up: The Baker of Market Drayton and King Charles II –‘The Great Fire of Market Drayton 1651 ’ by Purcell Accountants

“We’re thrilled to be runner-up in this year’s Gingerbread Trail. Huge thanks to Patsy Barlow and Alison Proctor for their fantastic creativity and effort – they made it possible!”

Chris Purcell, Purcell Accountants

Joint Runner Up: ‘Prince Philip’ (the late Duke of Edinburgh) by Oxfam (Cheshire Street).

“We are absolutely ecstatic to have been placed as joint runners-up! Our incredible team of volunteers have done an amazing job, and I’m extremely proud of them. A special mention goes to Leslie, who hand-knitted the outfit and crown for our Prince Philip gingerbread character and crafted it using donated wood — a project that took her three months to complete. We chose the late Prince Philip because he was Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which Oxfam proudly supports each year through our young volunteers. The festival itself was fantastic, with such a vibrant atmosphere and busy streets — it was wonderful to be part of it”

Hayley Lockley, Manager of Oxfam

Runner up: Hungry Einstein – Cookie’s Fish Bar

“We are more than happy to have been chosen as the runner up in the trail. It was a family effort and such a good experience. We also really enjoyed the festival and lots of children came to see our gingerbread man.”

Sechkin Mehmed 

Winner:  Arthur Phillips – Market Drayton Museum and Resource Centre

“Everyone is absolutely thrilled to have been awarded First Prize in the Charity Category

All the Museum Volunteers love taking part in the Ginger & Spice Festival’s Best Window Display, which just gets better every year – we all have great fun thinking up ideas to fit the theme.   This year’s theme of ‘Characters From History’ was very close to our hearts at the Museum, we wanted to highlight one of our own local historical characters.

This award is a huge ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ to all our wonderful volunteers at the museum, this year special thanks go to volunteer Tamasin for suggesting Arthur Phillips and taking the lead on making our brilliant window display.”

Carole Higgins, Chairman – Drayton Civic Society & Museum

Commenting on the Original Biscuit Bakers Heritage Trail, free prize draw winner, Willa Brook, said: “I liked Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein from Style Optique. We loved the trail and enjoyed waffles from Dessert Diva.”

Pictured with Sarah Hopcroft, Director of Original Biscuit Bakers.

Commenting on the trail, festival and being picked as runner-up in the free prize draw children’s prize,  Scarlett Benbow said: “I loved seeing all 47 gingerbread men on the trail and particularly loved Albert Einstein by Style Optique. I also loved the tasty food on the day including the waffle with cookie crumble & milk chocolate & white chocolate drizzle.”

Pictured with Sarah Hopcroft, Director of Original Biscuit Bakers.

Original Biscuit Bakers Trail Gallery 2025

Click the button below to see the dressed gingerbread characters.

With huge thanks to our headline sponsor The Original Biscuit Bakers and all supporting sponsors below.