Sadness as bakery with the 'best batches in town' to close

[dutchman]

It is a cornerstone of the town



A Bedworth bakery that sells the 'best batches in town' is to close. Harry's Bakery of Bedworth has been one of the cornerstones of the town centre for decades.

Famously, the firm, which started as Harry and Rose’s Bakery, has given ex-servicemen a complimentary batch and drop of whiskey during the town's proud Armistice parade. But it has been revealed that the owners of the bakery have announced their retirement.

In a post on the family run firm's page on Facebook, it states that their last day will be the day before Christmas Eve. It prompted a flurry of replies from sad townsfolk, sharing their memories of it providing the 'best bread and batches in town'.

The post read: "This is a very difficult post for us to write and has taken us a long time to come to terms with this decision. After over 70 years, the time has come for us, the owners of Harry’s Bakery to retire and it’s with a heavy heart and mixed emotions that we announce the closure of our business.

"We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing customers, dedicated employees, past and present and to our supportive Bedworth community and beyond. Your custom and loyalty have meant the world to us, and we cherish the memories we have created together."

It goes on to explain: "We invite you to join us in our last weeks of trading, to celebrate our journey and to say goodbye. Our final day will be Saturday 23rd December 2023.

Thank you for being a part of our story and for your continuous support. We will always look back on our time in business with great fondness and appreciation. With deepest gratitude and warmest regards.

"Martin & Jan, Andrew & Tracey, Sara & Holly of Harry’s Bakery." Martin Twigger's late parents Harry and Rose founded the café in Mill Street. Rosie Twigger sadly passed away last year, after she lost her husband Harry.

[dutchman]

I'm sure there'll be a Greggs opening nearby very soon!

[dutchman]

Harry's Bakery will close its doors for the last time on 23 December



The owners of a bakery have said an emotional thank you to their customers as they prepare to close after 70 years.

Harry’s Bakery of Bedworth, Warwickshire, will switch off the ovens for the final time at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

The family-run business announced its closure in November, external and confirmed the owners were retiring.

Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, owners and brothers Martin and Andrew Twigger said they had been overwhelmed by the response from the community.

Martin Twigger, 68, said: “We’ve had a huge response….it’s been unreal and frightening but we’re closing anyway.

“We’ve been doing it since we were kids and it’s just grown to what it is today.”

But referring to a £1,100-per-month increase in the business’s electricity bill, he said the venture was “not really worth doing anymore”.

Reminiscing on his work, he said the pair would always try to make the best of everything they did.

“We don’t like to make anything that’s not the best it could be made”, he explained.

Meanwhile, Andrew Twigger described how they would often be out of bed between midnight and 01:00 to start their working days.

“You get up at stupid o’clock, cope with your aches and pains, start work and finish when the job’s done,” he said.

He urged people to support their local businesses, saying they would not be around forever.

His brother thanked everyone who had supported the business over the years, adding: “We hope they appreciate what we’ve put in to keep them fed.”

[dutchman]

Touching final message from much-loved bakery after serving the 'best batches' for seven decades



A much-loved bakery has issued a final touching message after serving its famed batches for the last ever time. Queues snaked around Mill Street when Harry's Bakery in Bedworth opened for what would be its final time on December 23.

Generations have grown up with the family firm which, after seven decades, took the difficult decision to close for good. Now after a groundswell of support from grateful customers on the final day, the business took to its page on Facebook to say its last farewell.

"We are truly overcome and humbled by your outpouring of support and kindness, and we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and your response was much more than we ever could have imagined or expected," the post read. "Your gifts, comments and cards bought us to tears, thank you for taking the time to write to us.

"Thank you also to our wonderful friends, rep’s, suppliers, delivery drivers, acquaintances and past colleagues who came to visit us, this meant the absolute world to us! It was so lovely seeing you all." It also paid tribute to staff members - Debbie, Shell, Claire, Jackie, Chloe, Michelle, Skye and Alex.

"This is the hardest part of saying goodbye, to the bestest of people, who we class as family," the post continued. "They have stood by us in the toughest of times and have always gone above and beyond in their dedication. We could not have done it without you and we take our hats off to you! We wish you all the greatest of luck for the future! If you can work at Harry’s you can work anywhere!"

The post went on to urge locals to continue to support businesses in the town centre now that one of its oldest has now closed.

"Covid, energy prices and whatever else got thrown at us, we found a way to overcome," it added. "But old age is something we can’t fight, so we are now stepping down on our own terms. We shall fade into memory and old stories like much of Bedworth ’s past. But we shall not forget you all, and we will be forever grateful for your support, smiles and well wishes.

"We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! To new beginnings! Support your local businesses now more than ever … and cash shall always be king and just for the record it will always be known as a “batch”."

It ended: "It has been our pleasure to serve the town and people of Bedworth." It was signed off Martin, Jan and Sara Twigger, and Andrew, Tracey and Holly Twigger.

Now that the final batches, breads and cakes have been served and the doors closed, it is unclear what the future holds for the building. But it will forever be 'Harry's' to so many.

[dutchman]

It reminds me of the pie shop in Spon Street, that had a black and white frontage as well.