Since it opened its doors five years ago, BHH synagogue’s Street Lane Bakery has been there for North Leeds providing a reliable source of delicious kosher bakes.
Directors Leon and David Davidson both manage the business as volunteers and have seen the bakery go from strength to strength: “We’ve been here for five years; it’s a huge milestone for us,” said David. “It’s been a long time developing the bakery into the community and it’s been an uphill struggle at times, but we’re still going strong after all this time!”
The bakery is open to the entire community, offering fresh breads and cakes baked daily. It offers a wide variety of bakes specialising in old Jewish recipes as well as modern favourites, dealing in everything from a traditional challah to a hip rye sourdough. The bakery also does its best to give back to the community, donating any leftover bread to local foodbanks.
Over the years the bakery has built up a reputation for the best bagel in town. Head down on a Sunday and you can get eight different kinds, stuffed with your favourite fillings – make ours a smoked salmon and cream cheese!
While the bakery is up against the big chain supermarkets offering kashrut fulfilment, Leon doesn’t sweat the competition: “Our bread wins out every time because it’s baked fresh daily. Not only are we the only bakers in Leeds making fresh kosher bread for the community, but we’re the only fresh bread bakery in the area.”
With a retail area running alongside a coffee shop, where you can sit in and enjoy quality coffee, teas and confectionary, the bakery has proved hugely popular with a raft of regular customers from LS17 and beyond.
Leon puts this success down to his staff: “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our team. We have three talented bakers, plus a Belgian patisserie chef, with a lifetime of experience between them working alongside our long-serving coffee shop staff and of course our fabulous volunteers who do their bit to help us out.”
To celebrate the milestone, the bakery has invited the whole community to a joint celebratory kiddush on 30th March at the BHH shul following its Shabbat service: “Not only are we marking Street Lane Bakery’s fifth anniversary but we’ll also be celebrating BHH president Rosalind Peters and her husband Paul’s 40th wedding anniversary. It’s going to be a magnificent kiddush with lots of sandwiches, sweet treats and special one-off cakes for our birthday, all straight from the bakery, and everyone is welcome!”
