As it’s Real Bread Week 19th-27th February, the annual international celebration of additive-free loaves and the people that make them, we thought we’d give them a shout out.

Firstly to the grand old dames of Henley bakeries Franco Belge in Duke Street who’s family baking heritage dates back to 1936 and have just had a sexy new refit, go check it out; and Lawlors the Bakers who first stoked up their ovens in 1948. Their shop in Duke Street is temporarily closed but the bakery is still firing on all cylinders from Enterprise Park supplying lots of local pubs, restaurants and businesses.

Next up is the deluge of bread and pastry offerings from the wonderful Bosley Patch Market Garden & Farm Shop along the Marlow Road. Most days you can pop into the shed which will have an array of delicious breads made with local flour, doughnuts on a Friday (you need to get in quick) and other heavenly goodies.

Image: Bosley Patch doughnuts

Keeping it uber local, there is the Boston Road Baker and his outstanding sourdough bread that you can find at The Henley Larder and Daisy Loves Henley.

They say that small is beautiful, small batch baking that is and Darka’s Bakery is no exception with her Croatian influenced breads and pastries. We highly recommend her rye bread, super delicious which you will always find as part of our Experience Henley Cheese Club events as we love it so much!

Image: Experience Henley Burns Night Canape of Hot Whisky Smoked Salmon on Darka’s Bakery Rye Bread

More European influence by the guys at Geo Cafe where you can get Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Italian, Russian and Georgian influenced breads made by RGBreads and other goodies on a daily basis. Technically not baked in Henley but Geo Cafe is part of the Henley cafe and bakery posse, so they’re definitely part of the Henley bakery vibe; plus they bake a Henley Loaf. If you’ve never been to Geo Cafe in Friday Street, why not you crazy fools!

Image: Geo Cafe’s Giandujas

Now we’re moving on to the new kids on the block and some not yet open but first The Bread Hatch micro bakery with a nod to their Portuguese heritage crafting exceptional sourdoughs, yeasted breads and sweet treats and would be completely wrong if they didn’t make Pasteis de Natas, thankfully they do. We go Gallic now with Wild Frog Bakehouse. An independent artisan French bakery in Stoke Row by Jules and Pauline who met whilst working at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and produce the most amazing Brioche Loaf amongst a stunning selections of other breads such as Beer & Malt Sourdough, Raisin & Walnut Sourdough and Olive & Herb Fougasse.

Image: Wild Frog Bakehouse

Lastly, we’re all waiting with baited breath, rumbling tummies and salivating just a teeny bit for the opening of Gail’s bakery in Market Place Henley and McQueen’s Deli-Bakery in Nettlebread Nettlebed!

We are spoilt for choice, but we love it and we love all of those hard working independent bakers who make all this wonderful bread and baked goodies for us in and around Henley.

Keep supporting local, keep eating bread, it’s good for you….honest!