New Milton Advertiser 4th Dec 2020

26 · Friday 4th December 2020

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Family bakery rises to the occasion with award

Village shop named best in Hampshire for second year running

was named best bakery in Hampshire for the second year running. The Bakehouse in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst, secured the prestigious title in the Na- tional Bakery Awards 2020, beating competition from a list of other nominees including larger scale companies. Master baker and owner Steve Jose and his wife Lee

managed to pick up their silver- ware when they attended the awards ceremony in London in March – just over a week before the first Covid-19 national lock - down was enforced. Speaking to the A&T, Steve explained he decided to delay announcing the triumph as the pandemic took hold. “To win once is wonderful – a once in a lifetime opportunity

– but to win it twice is off the scale,” he said. “I was shocked, obviously, to win a second time. The first time, I thought it was my mates having a joke with me when I received the email telling me the bakery had won. “Hampshire is a busy county, so we were up against a lot of bakeries.” The last of a string of bak-

ers’ shops run by the family in a history stretching back nearly 200 years, The Bakehouse was expanded by Steve in 2000 to enable all produce to be baked on-site. As a result, the cakes, pas- tries and breads sold by the business, which employs nine staff, most of whom are family and friends of the family, are freshly prepared the same day. The company – originally called Jose and Sons – previ- ously operated out of 13 bakers’ shops across the New Forest and Bournemouth areas, in- cluding one opposite the A&T’s offices in New Milton. A fourth generation of the family is set to inherit the mas- ter baker’s hat when Steve (63) hands the ownership over to his son James (31) upon his retire - ment. Describing The Bakehouse as “a true family business”, Ste- ve credited continued support to concerns “insufficient meas - ures” were in place to manage crowds, writes Josh Wright of the Local Democracy Reporting Service . But the decision last week to place BCP Council into Tier 2 of the new coronavirus restrictions forced organiser Zoom Events to scrap plans to host two bars – in turn overcoming the force’s fears. A BCP Council licensing sub-committee had been due to consider two temporary event notices covering the event. But its chair, Cllr Judy Butt, con - firmed the police objection had

BY CHRIS MARCH

A NEW Forest baker was truly able to have his cake and eat it when his family business which has crossed three generations

from residents and visitors for the fact it had continued to thrive despite the pandemic. “Brockenhurst is quite a special location because it’s got a wonderful train station which brings in all the walkers, bike riders and tourists, and people from London,” he ex- plained. “We’ve got a campsite when The Bakehouse in Brookley Road

it is open in the summer and a college of 3,000-4,000 students, as well as 5,000-6,000 locals who really do utilise the shops in the village. “During the coronavirus, Brockenhurst became a honey- pot for cyclists and walkers, and we’ve been doing August trade in Brockenhurst in November, which is incredible.”

Lee and Steve Jose

The family bakery stretches back nearly 200 years Steve with the award

Tasty treats at Christmas market

TASTY street food was prom- ised to be on the menu at Christchurch Christmas mar - ket which kicked off yesterday (Thursday). The free-to-enter event will be in Saxon Square until Sun- day 13th December with a range of dishes available alongside the chance to buy gifts, festive hamper treats and stocking fillers. Among the takeaway foods on offer will be grilled German sau- sages, Thai cuisine and foods cooked in a traditional smoker oven. Visitors will also be able to choose from a selection of hand-

made groceries to take home including award-winning waxed cheese truckles, Indian spices and a range of sweet treats. “We are delighted to be host- ing a festive market in the Sax- on Square shopping centre at the end of what has been a very difficult year for everyone,” said Paul Kennedy, director of organ- ising company Zoom Events. “We hope to bring a little Christmas cheer and a degree of normality to the people of Christchurch during these un - certain times.” Dorset Police had opposed the Saxon Square event due

been withdrawn and that the event would now be allowed. “The main concern of police was people gathering around the bar and the potential difficulties that would create,” she said. “But yesterday’s decision on the tiers has meant those bars will now not be there. As a con- sequence, Dorset Police with- drew its objection and so we did not consider the temporary event notices.” The outdoor shopping experi- ence will have social distancing measures in place, said a Zoom spokesperson. It will be open from 10am to 5pm.