Tough love for new Nottingham bakery
A love affair with baking led to the creation of Nottingham’s latest artisan food retailer, Tough Mary’s Bakehouse, which opened in Derby Road yesterday.
Proprietor Kate O’Shea, who will start her day at the bakery at an eye-watering 4am, will be supplying freshly made bread and pastries as well as hot and cold drinks to customers who can choose to eat in or takeaway.
Kate, originally from London but now living in Carrington, didn’t always plan a career in baking. Having studied knitwear at Nottingham Trent University, Kate decided that she’d like to turn her passion of baking bread and sweet treats into a full-time career and took the first step in making that dream a reality.
To get the training she needed, Kate enrolled on a short course in artisan bread making at The School of Artisan Food on the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire. She then worked in bakeries and patisseries in Suffolk and Sheffield where she honed her skills and planned her venture.
With valuable experience under her belt, Kate decided it was the right time to open her first bakery and knew Nottingham would be the ideal place to start a business.
Kate said: “I have been dreaming about having my own bakery for a number of years and now I’ve finally gone for it I’m so excited Tough Mary’s Bakehouse is open.
“Having spent nearly ten years in Nottingham, I know the area well and love the vibrancy of it, plus the people of Nottingham appreciate good food and are receptive to it so opening here was an easy decision.
“Many people have already said they really like the name of the bakery but as it’s unusual have asked me why I chose it. The reason being, my middle name is Mary, and my mum always said if I was to run my own business I would have to be tough! Plus, there is a song by Etta James with the same name that I like so it all just made sense.
“At Tough Mary’s Bakehouse, we use honest ingredients and traditional methods to create our delicious products and every item is made with love. I can’t wait to meet my new customers, many of whom I hope will become regulars.”
Nottingham law firm Fraser Brown helped Kate secure the lease of the building on Derby Road which has had a full fit-out including a striking bright yellow frontage.
