A bakery in Barrow promoting Hairy Bikers-approved pies is hoping to add another award to its collection later this month.
Back in August, The Mail launched the 'Best Bakery 2024' awards to find our reader's favourite business in Furness.
Following the submission of nominations by the public, we unveiled the top 10 bakeries in the area last week.
You can vote for your favourite by picking up a copy of The Mail by Saturday, September 14.
The Mail's 'Best Bakery 2024' award series so far:
- The ten finalists as The Mail hunts for best Furness bakery | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
- Barrow bakery has chance of being named best in Furness | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
- Barrow bakery loved by the Hairy Bikers up for award | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
- Barrow 100-year-old bakery still cooking up success | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
Up until then, each day is showcasing one of the finalists in a series of special features, with the campaign once again taking us back to Barrow.
Thomas' Bakery has connections to various spots in south Cumbria, including Dalton and Ulverston, though its shop on Cavendish Street has earned the award nomination.
There, Brian O'Loughlin has been with the business for two decades this year, having first spotted the bakery being up for sale back in 2004.
He said: "It's a dying industry, the village high street bakery, but we still focus on giving our customers the best products that money can buy.
"I challenge anyone to present me with a better hot cross bun than ours because I truly believe we have the best ones in the country - and therefore, the world."
Brian has been in the industry for 47 years, having managed bakeries across Britain after starting his career at the National Bakery School in London.
His time at Thomas' has brought great success, including when the Hairy Bikers themselves crowned the bakery's meat-and-potato pies as the best in Furness.
"There's a reason why we have customers queuing out the door every day, and that's because they know we're in there at 2am, making sure everything is fresh for the day ahead," said Brian.
"Those customers have continued to back us - including through some really tricky moments over the years - and I feel as if we still have a very successful business to continue for years to come."
If you believe that Thomas' Bakery should be named as the best in Furness, then make sure to cast your vote before September 14.
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