FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N B R I S T O L
TAKE FIVE Our regular five-minute interview with the people making foodie news in the city right now
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akesmiths is a new – well, fairly new – indie artisan baker, coffee shop and wine bar on Whiteladies Road; it’s also a shop and a wine bar that hosts live music and pop-up events, parties and a baking school. We’re amazed that coowner Alex Williams (shown above with baker Marianne) found time to answer our questions. What’s your role is in the company? I own and run Bakesmiths along with my two business partners, Tom Batlle and Mike Thorne, who wanted to create a venue showcasing their cake brand Cakesmiths – a local business supplying wholesale cakes to coffee shops and businesses nationwide on a next-day delivery basis. Why did Tom and Mike choose this site on Whiteladies Road? They felt it was the perfect venue to invite current and prospective customers to view and sample their cakes in a real-world setting. How and when did you come on board? I joined Bakesmiths after 10 years in transport, with aspirations of working in coffee. I was counting footfall up and down the road, when I stopped in for a coffee, and happened to ask Tom whether he would be up for giving me some work experience. I was soon introduced to Mike and within a couple of weeks became their business partner with the mandate of running the business as my own, allowing 72 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
them to focus their time on the Cakesmiths brand. So far it’s been a steep learning curve, but fantastic fun. What does Bakesmiths offer, and what makes it stand out from the crowd? Great customer service is the priority. We want everyone to feel welcome and feel like a local; something I believe we are achieving. We also have the USP of baking and roasting in the line of sight of our customers – everything is cooked from scratch each day onsite, which sets us apart from others in the industry. As well as breads and pastries, what else is on the menu? Fabulous food for everyone from the vegan to the committed carnivore. Our smashed avocado with dukkah is inevitably a big hit but our ‘Dirty Beans’ have begun to build up a cult following – who wouldn’t fall in love with our homemade beans filled with smoked bacon, pulled ham and spicy chorizo served with limitless sourdough bread baked fresh that day? The tip is to ask for it ‘extra dirty’ for added heat . . . You’re not just a coffee shop and brunch venue, though? You’re right, we also have a space upstairs which we utilise as a meeting venue for hire and a baking school. The room is a light and airy space which has proved a real hit with local businesses, and the fledgling baking school is gathering momentum, with some great Christmas classes coming up over the next month.
What’s your favourite temptation on the menu? Our ‘eggs in purgatory’ are pretty special; lots of brunch venues are doing their own version of baked eggs but ours come with a fresh pitta baked that morning and a mint raita to take the edge off the spice, served either vegetarian or packed with meat. The feedback has been brilliant. I also have to mention our sausage rolls though, whether you choose our meaty or veggie version, it doesn’t matter – you’ll be eating the best in Bristol! For more Bakesmiths, 65 Whiteladies Road, Bristol; 07535 607061; www.bakesmiths.co.uk
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