‘Opening Claridge’s Bakery feels like the moment when all the work, the recipes and the ideas finally meet the people they’re meant for,’ says baker du jour Richard Hart, who takes the role of executive baker and creative director at the eagerly awaited Claridge's Bakery. And, let's face it, if any establishment can put a contemporary twist on the humble loaf and serve it in a beautiful setting, it's Hart at Claridge's.
Situated on Brook's Mews and opening on January 21, the new bakery is dedicated to celebrating the craft and heritage of British baking and, as such, will offer a British-focused menu of much-loved classics. As a result, bread heads can look forward to a range of freshly baked breads daily, including Hart's globally renowned sourdough, bloomers and granary loaves, straight from the oven.
For those of you with a sweet tooth and old enough to remember, there will also be plenty of retro favourites, such as jammy dodger tarts, custard tarts, Belgian buns and iced fingers. And for the lunchtime crowd, a selection of freshly made sandwiches and savoury bites, most notably Marmite cheese straws, Hampshire pork scotch eggs and the ultimate Claridge’s sausage roll, may prove too hard to resist.
“There will also be plenty of retro favourites, such as Jammy Dodgers, custard tarts, Belgian buns and iced fingers”
Hart, meanwhile, recently returned to the UK after many years spent working alongside some of the most notable names in the culinary world – Chad Robertson of Tartine and René Redzepi of Noma. He is also the founder and co-owner of the acclaimed Hart Bageri in Denmark, and founder and owner of Green Rhino in Mexico City, one of the city’s most loved and cult bakeries.
Of his latest venture, he says: ‘Claridge’s has always stood for a certain kind of hospitality and bringing that spirit into the bakery has been a joy. It’s been a privilege to develop the vision and the menu, and I’m excited for Londoners and travellers alike to discover and taste what we’ve created for them.’
And while the phrase "just popping out for a loaf of bread" might not be something you hear that often in the heart of Mayfair, there's no reason not to add a bloomer or a french fancy, along with a new-season Gucci blouse, to your shopping list. Simply follow your nose from Bond Street to the mews behind Claridge's and form an orderly queue!
Claridge's Bakery, Brooks Mews, London W1K 4HR