Episode 14: Michael Wooton from Judges Bakery

In this episode of Be Your Business, I meet local baking legend Michael Wooton, owner of Judges Bakery in Hastings old town, to explore how he fell in love with bread from a young age and being the custodian of one of the country's oldest working bakeries, which first started baking loaves in 1826.

We talk about growing up in Hastings and the special community it has, why the old town feels like a village and his passion for his hometown. We explore Hastings` unique culture and why he thinks the influx of people coming to the town is a good thing.

Michael speaks about not knowing what to do with his life when he finished his A-levels until he saw an advert for an apprenticeship as a baker and decided to do it until he found a proper job.

We discuss baking and the 30 different types of bread that are made by Judges, making everything from scratch and why the acid test of a bakery is their sausage rolls. We talk about the team of 28 people he employs including eight bakers and the pride they take in their baking.

I find out about Michael’s passion for bread and the sadness that he felt when the baking industry went through its darkest years and how he came to buy Judges and share the bread he loved.

We talk about the historic building that Judges Bakery has operated from since it opened 194 years ago and how the timber used to construct the tudor building has been carbon dated to one-thousand years ago and the time of the Norman conquest.

Finally I learn about the tradition of bread making and the rise of sourdough, why it is healthier and tastes better than yeasted bread and the etymology of the word barmy. Michael also tells me where I went wrong with my lockdown sourdough and how time is the secret ingredient in good bread.

It was fantastic to meet Michael and hear his story about following his passion and creating a business which is truly loved and an integral part of the community.