Award winning Oxfordshire bakery opens new shop in Witney

The opening, on Friday, June 5, was attended by the Witney mayor, Jan Doughty, and the MP for Witney, Charlie Maynard.

Known for its handmade sourdough, cinnamon buns, and warm, quality-driven café experience, Blake’s has transformed the 100-year-old Wychwood brewery site at the Eagle Industrial Estate near the Green into a new bakery and café restaurant.

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Mayor Jan Doughty on a tour of the bakery (Image: Blake’s Kitchen)

The launch menu features a distinct selection of pizzas, including speciality options crafted with dough from the in-house bakery, such as Brisket and Blue, Ham and Chilli Pineapple, and Pepperoni and Hot Honey.

The decision to expand was driven by the success of their original Clanfield site.

Nicola Cooper, founder and bakery director at Blake’s said: “Put simply, we outgrew our original bakery.

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Blake’s Witney general manager Laura Cottrell and deputy manager Sophie Green at the opening (Image: Blake’s Kitchen)

“It’s been bursting at the seams for some time as we expanded our café sites and wholesale offering, and with no space to grow further there, we’ve been looking for a site close to our original home.

“When the opportunity came up to take over the old Wychwood Brewery site – a characterful building with an incredible heritage for grain-based craft – it just felt right.

“It offers the potential for both a larger centralised bakery and the space for an exciting new café restaurant and function space we’ve always dreamed of.

Some of the bakery items for sale (Image: Blake’s Kitchen)

“Our Witney location now serves as the absolute beating heart of the business.

“It’s here that all of our breads, pastries, and baked goods for all Blake’s Kitchen cafés are made entirely fresh each day.

“From early morning, the baking team is at work using high-quality, locally sourced flour, beautifully continuing the craft and heritage of the building.”

The new location in Witney (Image: Blake’s Kitchen)

Blake’s Kitchen, now run by husband and wife duo Daniel and Nicola, started in 1963 as the Clanfield Post Office and shop by Nicola’s grandparents, Bob and Martha Blake.

In 2020, the team opened a second Blake’s Kitchen at Soho Farmhouse near Chipping Norton, followed by a third site in 2024 in the Buscot and Coleshill National Trust Estate.

When Martha retired in 1985, Nic’s mum Janet took over the business and she’s still serving customers to this day.

In November 2014, Nic moved back to the village, and left her job as a university lecturer and dietitian to take on the challenge of running the business.