Category: Films

  • RISE Bakehouse, Reading: the first film

    RISE Bakehouse, Reading: the first film

    I’m pleased to share the first Before We Open film. You can click below or head over to YouTube – likes, subscribes and hitting the bell icon are all highly appreciated.

    2AM to 9AM at a Bakery Hidden Down an Alley in England | Bakery Routine

    It all started as a bit of an idea I had.

    In various jobs over the years I’ve been lucky to see behind the scenes at makers, manufacturers and shops. There’s always a special feeling to it, getting a glimpse of those almost private moments behind the curtain.

    We get to enjoy what British makers produce but rarely see what happens before we arrive. I wondered what it would be like to just be in the room for that part and share it.

    The first film is from RISE Bakehouse in Reading, England. It’s tucked away in an alley and easy to walk past, yet by 9am there’s a queue outside.

    It starts at 1.53am in this quiet alley. And, whilst I might have physically been there at that time, I think a good part of me was still lying in my bed at home.

    A quiet alley at night with a mural on the wall and the bakery lit at the far end
    The alley, in the dark
    A queue of customers waiting in the alley outside the bakery in the morning light
    The queue outside, later that morning

    At 2am Nathan, the owner and head baker, arrives and the day begins. From there it follows the morning in the order it happened, up to 8.53am when the first customers arrive.

    You might be surprised how much baking goes on in such a small space. I certainly was, it wasn’t just the amount of delicious items being made, but the variety of sourdoughs and pastries coming out.

    Rows of cinnamon swirls on a baking tray
    Cinnamon swirls

    It’s 38 minutes, so put it on when you’ve got time to settle in.

    There’s no presenter and no interviews, but you occasionally here me speak as well as Nathan and the team providing more information. Mostly, you get the sound of the room, with captions when something needs explaining.

    Thank you to Nathan and the whole team at Rise for letting me in to share this with you – it was really special being able to see you all at work and the amazing things you made that are so well-loved by the community.

    And I’m grateful that you gave me a chance and welcomed me in warmly, when I didn’t have any back catalogue to show you.

    If you’d like to know when the next video goes up, the email sign-up is below.

    And if you know a maker who’s already hard at work while the rest of us are asleep, I’d like to hear where they are.

    Rob

    Visit RISE Bakehouse

    4 Chatham Place, Reading RG1 7JF
    Open Wednesday to Saturday, 9am to 2pm

    rise-bakehouse.co.uk (click and collect is available on their website)
    Instagram: @risebakehousereading

    Mentioned in the video:

    Window art by Beastberry Designs
    Flour from Matthew’s Cotswold Flour
    Butter from Ampersand Dairy