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Set in the picturesque town of Southwell, you will find the Little Brunette Bakery, a bakery owned and run by two sisters who are both passionate about baking - and who took a leap of faith in opening their small business.

The bakery is quaint, the sort of place you fantasise about opening one day, but never quite get around to doing. Thankfully, the sisters had the ambition and tenacity to make their dream a reality and set up the shop last year. The décor inside is aesthetically pleasing with leafy wallpaper and pink lampshades, plus the display cabinet is lined with home-baked goods which are all made on site, such as bagels, croissants, chocolate sourdough and cinnamon rolls.

Sisters Jessica, 27, and Amelia, 24, Wells make the perfect team. With Amelia’s qualification as an artisan baker, training at the Welbeck School of Artisan Food, coupled with Jessica’s experience working in retail and a trained eye for photography, the pair started off mainly baking celebration cakes from home and doing local bread deliveries out of their parents’ kitchen. However, the bakery - which is now thriving - almost never came to be due to planning issues with local authorities initially voting against the businesses plans, with some even worried about the bakery acting as a smell nuisance – which begs the question, who doesn’t love the smell of freshly- baked bread and buttery croissants in the morning?!

Chatting with Jessica and Amelia, I'm keen to learn more about the precarious start and the rise of Little Brunette Bakery.

“The building in Southwell became available to purchase and we basically took a leap of faith and thought, ‘Let’s open a bakery!’ Unfortunately, we were faced with multiple obstructions along the way,” they muse. “After spending our life savings and maxing out a small loan to fit out the shop and kitchen, we were told that the existing planning was not what we needed, and we had to go through everything all over again.” appear grateful that the bakery survived those difficult early days. The front door to the shop barely remains closed for longer than five minutes on a busy Saturday morning, with customers trailing in and out, baked goods clutched to their chests to take home and enjoy. Little Brunette also has a new brunch menu on offer, which includes filled bagels, French toast, scrambled eggs, and oats.

“We wanted to create a menu that hopefully pleases everyone and caters to a multitude of allergies. We are brunch lovers ourselves and have always wanted to create a place we would love to go,” Jess tells me.

The sisters aren’t alone in the shop; their mum, Kay, plays a huge role in the business and knows every customer by name – with some even popping by just to enjoy a coffee and a chat with her. “She’s also the voice of reason sometimes,” they tell me, laughing. “Two sisters running a business are still two sisters at the end of the day, and we do occasionally bicker!”

After putting in new planning permissions and spending thousands of pounds on new testing over the following months, almost a year later Little Brunette Bakery was finally ready to open for business.

Locals are fully supportive of the small business - which is conclusive evidence that many of life’s problems can be solved with pastries – and they all

This wholesome family joint is not stopping here, with plans to open a second business in the future (bring on the challenges)… I know I'll be first through the doors to support it!

To read more about the restaurant scene in Nottingham, follow The Nottingham Food Guide on Instagram @littlebrunettebakery

To Visit Cafe Sobar

We always recommend stopping by Sobar for a coffee and a cake - but right now they have a special exhibition dedicated to legendary boxer William ‘Bendigo’ Thompson. Check it out while you can.

@cafe_sobar

To Nosh Full Pantry - The Pudding Pantry

Pancake Day may have been and gone, but there’s never a bad time to wolf down one of The Pudding Pantry’s trademark pancakes. Go Full Pantry to give it the Big Breakfast treatment.

@thepuddingpantry

To Sup

Crystal Clear - Castle Rock

Launching with a special event at the Old Cold Store on International Women’s Day, this special golden alecreated alongside Brewster’s Brewery - will be another great addition to the Castle Rock collection. castlerockbrewery.co.uk

Boasting the likes of The Botanist, La Storia and Escabeche, West Bridgford has a reputation for its thriving restaurant scene. But still, I don’t often eat in this side of Nottingham. So, it was a pleasant change when I was invited for a birthday party meal at Giggling Squidthe Thai restaurant located on Bridgford Road.

Part of a wider chain, I wasn’t sure what to expect when stepping into the restaurant, and I must admit I was a little afraid there’d be a soulless atmosphere. Yet this couldn’t be further from the truth, and I was instantly greeted by a selection of friendly staff. Likewise, the interior of the restaurant was beautiful, and the food equally impressive.

The Berliner is probably my favourite bar to visit round Beeston way, the reason being that there is always a promise of good vibes and a great playlist - and it doesn’t hurt that they run a daily cocktail special where you can get two cocktails for just £10. What a win!

However, recently the food has taken the spotlight for us; with a menu of banging German-inspired bites like thinly sliced Berlin-style fried potatoes loaded with different sauces and toppings. We tried the ‘Buffalo Style Potatoes’, priced at £6, which come topped with a morish spicy homemade buffalo sauce, garlic aioli, crispy onions, and chives. We also sampled a ‘Curry Dog’ for £5, which is a juicy beef or vegan frankfurter slathered in curry ketchup and onions. Lecker!

In addition to these delights, they also have falafel bites or halloumi pittas, as well as pizzas, and a big German pretzel served with your choice of either a cheese dip or chocolate sauce.

From the spicy Pad Mee Keemao to the simple Chicken Satay, Nottingham is a treasure trove when it comes to Thai food. But where is the best place to go? Decide for yourself after visiting these five spots…

Zaap – Tofu Pad Thai

Immerse yourself in a real life Bangkok Street-style restaurant, tucking into a tasty dish in one of their train carriages. This meal is a classic noodle stir fry which I accompanied with tofu. If the mention of tofu stopped you in your tracks, keep going and try it yourself. It was the best I have ever eaten!

@zaap_thai_streetfood

Mr Thai – Pad Mee Keemao