Holly HY / 19 September 2016 / Categories: Shops, Specialty, Food & Drink

Countesthorpe Born and Bread

M Garratts bakers

Finding artisan bread in London is easy, along with loads of independents you can pretty much find a Gails on every high street.

Not so easy as you head north where it seems Gails is replaced with Greggs or the big supermarket bakeries if you want fresh and otherwise it's only the "plastic bag" cricket tea and church fete curly corner bread available.

We are so lucky in our tiny village to have an incredible artisan baker Mick Garrett in the next village over, Countesthorpe. It’s a family affair assisted by wife Elisabeth and daughter Libby. Mick is always working away in the back of the shop whilst the ladies front of house talk lovingly about him so all his customers know he exists.

His bread is a testament to Mick and his loyal team of lovelies who I understand has been baking bread in the same location for over 25 years. And the cutest thing, the loaves all have names, our favourite is Kevin. A brown granary loaf, light and malty, crispy on the outside and soft in the centre. The nicest bread I’ve actually eaten.

It's a beautiful story and even more poignant in these days of fast and cheap. There aren't very many businesses that can close their doors for 2 weeks a year to give the baker a holiday and his customers will still be loyally queuing around the block on his return.

If you live close by or are passing through the village this bread is absolutely delicious and definitely worth a little detour for but a word of warning, make sure you come at the right time, the Kevin’s don’t come out the oven until after 9.30am during the week and once tried you may just find it impossible to give up.

This is a small batch bakery that sells out fast so if you want to be guaranteed your loaf place an order.