Wooster’s Bakery leaves Bardwell site and relocates to Wyken Vineyards in Stanton

A well-loved bakery is set to leave its flagship windmill location as it embarks on a new business venture.

Wooster’s Bakery, based at The Windmill in Bardwell, near Bury St Edmunds, has announced plans to relocate and begin operations at Wyken Vineyards in Stanton.

Will Wooster, who has led the business since 2015, said the move will be ‘bittersweet’ as he leaves behind the property owned by his grandmother where his parents launched the bakery in 1992.

He said: “It’s unfortunately time to close and move on — which is of course a bittersweet moment for me as I have so many memories there like learning to bake with my dad, but I’m really looking to this next chapter for Wooster’s.

“My brother, Joe, has been amazing at managing the Bardwell site. He’s truly shaped it into the warm, community-focused place it is today.”

The site will close on Saturday, February 22, with plans to reopen at Wyken Vineyards on Wednesday, February 26.

Over the past decade, Wooster’s Bakery has grown to open a town centre shop in Bury St Edmunds as well as regularly taking part in weekly markets in Bury, Hadleigh and Wyken Vineyards Farmers’ Market — the place where Will first began selling his bakes.

“It’s where I cut my teeth,” he said. “So I think its really fitting to be moving to where it all began, 10 years on.

“The farmers’ market is such a fabulous place — really great produce, really great people, and such an amazing piece of English countryside with its wonderful grounds and gardens.

“It’s just a brilliant opportunity for us and I think it just made perfect sense to link up with Wyken in this way.”

Wyken Vineyards, led by Sam Carlisle, is renowned for its prestigious restaurant, The Leaping Hare, which has featured in the Good Food Guide for more than 20 consecutive years from a converted 400-year-old barn.

Sam said the Wooster family has been a big part of Suffolk’s food scene for years and after selling the bakery’s products in the restaurant, this new venture seemed like a ‘natural fit’.

“I’m really looking forward to having Wooster’s at a permanent location at Wyken,” he said.

“We have decades of experience working together with Will’s mum, Sue, even running a plant nursery at our shop for some time.

“As businesses, we both share a real commitment to providing local produce with a focus on sustainability and conservation — so it’s just a really natural fit and we can’t wait to continue our partnership into the future.”

Wooster’s Bakery will continue offering its signature breads, pasteries and the renowned Malt Loaf — previously praised by Nigella Lawson — from its new home at Wyken Vineyards’ Bull Pen café.

The bakery’s opening hours will remain unchanged and it will welcome customers Wednesday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Will said the move will allow to the business expand its deli selection as the team will have extra space to showcase more Suffolk-sourced produce including Dingley Dell meats and Fen Farm cheeses.