The Crumb, the Nuts and the Value: Nottingham's Independent Panettone, Blind-Tasted for 2026
There is a particular kind of Nottingham grey in early November: not cold enough for a proper coat, not bright enough to pretend you are only popping out for a walk. It is excellent weather for staying in and eating cake. So, with Christmas 2026 creeping into view, we did the sensible thing and gathered six panettone from independent delis, bakeries and Italian shops around the city for a blind tasting.
This was not a Christmas crawl. Nobody put on a paper hat. There was no gravy, no pudding and no attempt to rank anything against a nut roast. The brief was narrow and nutty: which panettone, sold by Nottingham's independents, is actually worth the money when it lands on the Christmas table?
What makes a good nutty panettone?
A great panettone should feel like it has had a long, slow conversation with time. The crumb ought to be airy but tender, pulling apart in soft strands rather than crumbling like a tea cake. You want a gentle tang from natural leavening, a buttery richness that never tips into grease, and a scent that says yeast, vanilla and toasted nuts rather than sugar and perfume.
Nut fillings are where many loaves lose their nerve. Scattering a few almonds on the icing is not enough. We looked for nuts through the dough as well as on top, and we wanted them fresh, not stale or bitter. A nutty panettone can carry candied citrus, chocolate or spices, but the nuts should still be part of the story rather than a decorative afterthought.
Value mattered too. Fancy packaging is lovely until you realise you have paid £35 for something that tastes like a brioche cushion. We scored each loaf on crumb, nut presence, aroma and value per 100g, then argued about the results over coffee.
How the blind tasting worked
We bought six panettone from independent stockists across Nottingham, removed every wrapper and label, and gave each one a code. They were tasted at room temperature, on the same day, with the same plates and the same slightly blunt knives. Nobody knew which loaf came from which shop until the scores were in.
It was not a laboratory test. It was a room full of people who like cake, trying to be honest. Some loaves were brilliant. One was fine but forgettable. One was expensive enough that we expected it to do the washing-up.
The ranking: Nottingham's nutty panettone for Christmas 2026
1. The Hockley pistachio panettone — best overall
Sold by an Italian deli in Hockley, this was the loaf that made people stop talking. The crumb was open and soft, with a proper buttery aroma and a faint citrus lift. Pistachios appeared in the dough and in a rough green crust on top, and they tasted fresh rather than dusty. It is not cheap at around £32 for 1kg, but it is the one we would buy again for a Christmas table where people actually notice what they are eating. Score: 9/10.
2. Delilah Fine Foods almond and amaretto panettone — best for gifting
From the Lace Market deli, this one had a deep almond scent and a soft, even crumb. The amaretto was present without being bossy, and the flaked almonds on top had been toasted properly. At around £26 for 750g it is a treat, but it feels like a gift rather than a weekly shop. Serve it with black coffee and let somebody else do the washing-up. Score: 8.5/10.
3. Sherwood bakery hazelnut sourdough panettone — best value for nut lovers
This was the densest loaf in the line-up, but in a pleasing way. The sourdough tang was more pronounced, and the hazelnuts were generous and well distributed. It lacked the featherlight lift of the top two, but at around £22 for 700g it offered the best nut-to-pound ratio of the day. Toast a slice lightly and you have a very good breakfast. Score: 8/10.
4. The Good Weigh classic Milanese with walnuts — best budget entry
The Sherwood shop's take was lighter on nuts than the others, but it was honest and well made. The crumb was tender, the aroma was clean, and the walnuts added a pleasant savoury edge without overwhelming the fruit. At around £16 for 500g, it is the loaf to buy if you want panettone for the table without turning Christmas into a financial review. Score: 7.5/10.
5. West Bridgford cobnut and honey panettone — loveliest aroma, weakest nuts
This one smelled wonderful: honey, toasted cobnut and a little orange zest. The trouble was that the cobnuts got lost in the crumb, so the promise of the aroma did not quite carry through to the bite. At around £24 for 600g it was also the priciest per 100g. Lovely with tea, but not the nuttiest. Score: 7/10.
6. City centre chocolate-hazelnut panettone — best for the kids' table
There was nothing wrong with this loaf, but the cocoa ran the show. The hazelnuts were there, somewhere, behind the chocolate and the sweetness. If you have children at the table who regard plain panettone as suspicious, this is the one they will finish. For a nut-first tasting, though, it came last. Score: 6.5/10.
Nottingham stockists to bookmark for 2026
If you want to track these down, start with Delilah Fine Foods in the Lace Market, The Good Weigh in Sherwood and the independent Italian delis around Hockley. Smaller bakeries and delis in West Bridgford and Sherwood also tend to bring in panettone closer to December, but stock is limited and the good ones go early. Ring ahead, ask what has just arrived and check the best-before date. Panettone is not a thing to buy in a panic on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas table verdict
For a centrepiece that earns its keep, buy the Hockley pistachio panettone and serve it in thick slices at room temperature. If you want a gift, go to Delilah. If you want the best nutty loaf for a normal budget, the Sherwood hazelnut sourdough is the sensible pick. And if you simply want to get through December without spending £30 on cake, The Good Weigh's walnut loaf will do you proud.
Panettone is not pudding. It is not a crawl. It is Christmas breakfast, elevenses and a quiet slice at four o'clock when the light has gone. In Nottingham, in 2026, there are worse ways to spend a grey November than finding the right one.
