Interview with Dave Cockett

Interview with Dave Cockett

 

How secret is the Cockett’s Fruit Cake recipe? And is it still made using your great, great (I’m not sure how many greats here!) grandma (is she?), Connie Cockett’s original recipe? 
Very secret! 😂 

If you were to make a special Harry Grimm cake, what would it be? 
There’s only one special cake for Harry, and that’s the Cockett’s Fruit Cake, obviously. 

Have you read any of the Grimm books yet?
Unfortunately, I haven’t got to read any of the books yet, however, plenty of people must have, given the comments we get from some of our customers! 

Would you ever share the recipe for the Cockett’s ginger cake? 
No! 

Do you get many visitors popping in now because of the Grimm books? 
See my answer re the books above! 

What’s your favourite type of Yorkshire cheese and beer?
As you know, Wensleydale is famous for cheese, but their blue cheese has to be one of the best, especially while drinking a pint of Theakston’s Best! 

Can you give a list of the top pubs in Wensleydale/Swaledale?
The Board Inn, in Hawes, is a very good pub, traditional Yorkshire fayre, and a very well kept selection of ales. The Kings Arms, over in Askrigg, which was the Drovers Arms in the original All Creatures Great and Small TV series, is up there, as is the Wheatsheaf in Carperby, but this particular part of God’s own county boasts too many to name. 

Do you have any stories/memories of Dave Gatward from when you were kids?
That’s too long ago, now, for sure! 

Why are Hawes and Wensleydale so wonderful to live in?
Visit the area and you’ll soon find out for yourself. 

Which is your best-selling meat pie?
Most popular pie these days is a traditional pork pie. 

For someone visiting the area, can you give five places they absolutely have to visit?
Couple of notable places include the Creamery in Hawes, Hardraw Scar Waterfall, where the ‘prince of thieves’ swam naked in the movie, Aysgarth Falls is spectacular after a rainstorm, and the Buttertubs Pass is a dramatic stretch of road, and also Jeremy Clarkson’s favourite run! There’s also a wee butchers and bakers on the cobbles in Hawes, which definitely is not to be overlooked … 

What’s the history of the shop? For example, has it always been a butchers and bakers or did it start as one and then become both? How many years has it been in business? 
The shop was estaablished in 1854 as a butcher’s shop. Pies and cakes followed when JW Cockett, my grandfather, married a confectioner a few years before WW2. 


 

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