Docker Bakery’s hand-shaped and naturally leavened sourdough loaves have become a common feature in East Kent’s restaurant and gourmet food scene with customers like the Rocksalt, The Pig, The Rose and Filberts in Deal.

2020 has proven a challenge for the team as their wholesale business dropped away but they swiftly moved into home deliveries and have been able to reach a wider audience than previously. The harbour bakery has been straining at the seams for quite a while now and Docker have just built their second bakery in a new unit at West Hythe industrial estate. “This bakery is our chance to get everything right and create a lovely, light communal space where bakers can work together but maintain proper social distancing”. It’s a stunning location within the wheat fields and beside the tranquil Royal Military canal and just like the harbour bakery we hope to sell bread out the door to the local community as well as passing cyclists and walkers.

The new space will give us plenty of capacity to make more bread so we’re keen to hear from delis, restaurants and cafes who would like regular deliveries of beautiful, fresh sourdough. The harbour bakery will continue to sell bread and will receive a renovation before getting back into production in 2021.