Shropshire bakery doubles its workforce after taking over town's derelict bank

A Bridgnorth couple that took the gamble to turn a derelict bank in the town into a bakery, have doubled their workforce and turned it into a thriving business.

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For more than 30 years, baker John Powers built his career on producing high-quality bread and baked goods. In 2025, he and his partner Fiona took the bold decision to move Catherine’s Bakery from its smaller premises into the vacant former Natwest Bank on Bridgnorth High Street thanks to two grants.

The bakery opened earlier this year, and is the building is once again bustling with activity. Customers can buy freshly baked bread, rolls and cakes while watching them being made on-site, creating a unique experience that has helped the independent business grow and attract visitors from across the region.

The ambitious move was supported by two grants: a £10,000 Small Equipment Grant alongside a £55,000 grant from the West Midlands Growth Programme both funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, each of which contributed towards 50 per cent of the total costs.

The funding helped cover renovation work and the purchase of equipment needed to transform the building into a working bakery and retail space.

The project was not without its challenges. As a former bank, several original features had to be retained, including the building’s safes. Rather than remove them, John and Fiona found creative ways to adapt them for storage while preserving the character of the historic property.

The investment has already had a clear impact on the business. Since moving into the larger premises, Catherine’s Bakery has doubled its workforce from six to 12 part-time members of staff, creating new local jobs and increasing its contribution to the Bridgnorth economy.

Around 90 per cent of its products are made on-site, with John producing between 1,500 and 1,600 loaves each week. On busy Saturdays, he can bake as many as 2,500 rolls to keep up with customer demand.

The move has also allowed John and Fiona to offer something more than a traditional bakery. Customers can enjoy coffee and cake while watching bread being baked, talk directly to John and even pick up baking tips. This open-plan approach has turned the baking process into part of the customer experience, helping the business stand out on the High Street.

Fiona and John said: “Catherine’s Bakery offers a unique experience you can’t get elsewhere on the High Street. Our motto is ‘Always Fresh’. Here you can watch your bread being made. We can hear directly from customers how they want their bread baked, and sometimes John can even bake to order.

“People travel from as far afield as Wolverhampton and Ludlow to buy bread here. We’ve even welcomed visitors from New York who were born in Bridgnorth. They wished we could open a shop there but with an average 3am start, it’s a bit far to go!”

The direct relationship with customers has also enabled the business to develop new products and respond quickly to changing tastes. Immediate feedback means recipes can be adapted and new lines introduced based on customer demand.

The bakery has also taken steps to reduce waste. By closely monitoring what is selling throughout the day, John can adjust production levels accordingly. Unsold items are offered through the ‘Too Good To Go’ app, helping to reduce food waste while keeping costs down.

Regular queues form outside the bakery from 8am as local residents and businesses arrive to stock up on fresh bread and baked goods, demonstrating the strong demand for locally produced food and the importance of independent businesses to the town centre.

John and Fiona feel the investment has given Catherine’s Bakery a real boost and put the business in a strong place for the future. With more space to bake, a growing customer base and a bigger team behind them, the bakery is adding originality and a real sense of welcome to Bridgnorth High Street.

Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Once again this is a great example of what can be achieved by ambitious and innovative Shropshire businesses that have access to grant funding. Catherine’s Bakery has brought a vacant former bank back into use, created jobs, attracted customers and added real character to Bridgnorth High Street.

“Securing future funding for Shropshire is vital if we are to build on successes like this, protect the progress already made and help more businesses like this across the county grow.”