By Beth Doherty
Twitter:@bethdmedia / @new_valleynews
Instagram: @bethdohertymedia / @newvalleynews

Baking was a boredom outlet for many stuck at home during lockdown.

But for Louisa and Emma Parry, a spot of lockdown baking has grown into a new bakery business named Stable and Wick.

In March, Louisa Parry found herself in a tricky position as her self-employed events career began to disappear with cancellations due to the pandemic. At the time, she was organising a coffee festival for September, which was eventually held online.

Unable to pay rent and bills in Bristol, Lousia returned to her family home in Downton.

“Initially, I thought I would just move home for lockdown, but things got worse. We are all self-employed, so we found ourselves at home without work,” Louisa said.

“We aren’t very good at being bored, so me and my Mum Emma began baking together. I popped a sign outside our cottage with a contact number, offering to bake bread and buns. I didn’t think much would come of it but the phone started ringing and it’s been really popular!” Louisa explained.

Louisa and Emma began baking for the local residents of Downton, who quickly became regulars, and before they knew it, they needed a bigger kitchen.

“We realised Downton doesn’t have a bakery, so I thought ‘’why don’t we open one’! Our next door neighbour is a farmer and he came over and noticed us baking and we had a chat about moving into his barn and opening a bakery and farm shop.

“It kind of happened out of desperation, as everyone in our family is self-employed, and a year of work had just vanished, we were so bored, and we had to do something,” added Louisa.

Excited at their new opportunity, Louisa and Emma quickly renovated the barn, buying ovens and sinks.

“My family has always loved food. I have never worked with my Mum before, but I am learning a lot from her. There have been some hilarious moments where we are covered in flour or we have dropped everything all over the floor,” Louisa confided.

She says there is a strong sense of community in Downton and she has really enjoyed meeting the locals. “We want to give the bakery a go and give something to the people of Downton that they will enjoy.”

In October, the bakery will be open to customers, but at the moment all orders can be made online for collection.

“We have been doing picnics, afternoon teas, birthday hampers, and we love doing those things because it’s so nice to give people a hamper of homemade goods. We have had some really lovely feedback and people are naturally spreading the word,” said Louisa.

Looking forward, she would like to supply local produce and offer coffee.

“We are going to grow it and see what people want. I am a big coffee drinker so I would love to add that eventually, but we want to ask people what they want to see here.

“I always wanted to move back this way, it’s a slightly different path than I imagined but it is great being back and it is such a beautiful area, so I think I’ll be sticking around!” Louisa remarked.

Follow Louisa and Emma’s progress at Stable and Wick at: https://www.stableandwick.com/