Category: The Journey

Start up attitude

We’re back in start up mode. Fitting out a new unit always seems to start with freezing cold hands so … More

More nice emails

Dear Mike & NatalieThe news that we will no longer be able to eat your delicious bread every day, and … More

Nice emails

Dear both, I’ve just seen the news on Google…turns out it is useful on occasion! I wanted to wish you well … More

Compassion & Love

We’re tidying up a few things this week before our delayed holiday finally kicks off. Thank you for your donations … More

Trip Advisor love

Owners of hospitality businesses have a love-hate relationship with Trip Advisor. It’s great when you get great reviews but a … More

Rolling stones

When we moved our business and entire life to Norwich in 2016 people thought we were mad. We had a … More

Christmas Opening Hours

Based on last year’s orders a lot of you love fresh bread for the festive period, so we’ve decided to … More

New November Menu

Firstly a big thank you to all our loyal customers who have stuck with us during our change in opening … More

New Autumn Menu

Click here for our new Autumn menu A couple of tweaks again as we head into Autumn. A welcome return … More

Toastie love from Chelsea

Even though Norwich City didn’t win today, we had a very nice mention by Chelsea fan and vlogger George Benson … More

Trip Advisor Love

A huge thank you to everyone posting lovely comments on our Trip Advisor page. We’ve found that a lot of … More

Pina Colada cake

We’re still pretending June is only 3 weeks away here at Timberhill Bakery. It’s not quite grass skirts and suncream … More

Coffee Props

Lovely mention in the EDP recently with an article on the best 7 places for coffee in Norwich

Kiwi and Lime 2.0

Can bakers learn anything from software engineers? We love the approach of continual improvement personified by software engineers. Everything can … More

April Menu

A few tweaks to the menu his month starting with the Smashed Pea, Feta and Mint Tartine. It was a … More

Thanks for giving

You can tell a lot about a place by the charity box they choose to put near the till. Ours … More

March Menu

It’s typically a bit quieter at this time of the year but there’s still plenty to keep us busy. We’ve … More

Taste of California

People do nice things when you admire their work. I tasted this knockout loaf cake at a lovely coffee shop … More

Re-opening Tues 29th Jan

We’re back in the swing of things again already and open again Tuesday 29th January after our belated Christmas holiday. … More

Open again Wednesday 2nd Jan

Just a quick reminder that we’re back to our normal opening hours from tomorrow. Looking forward to see you all!

Christmas Eve orders

…need to be into us by Saturday 22nd at the latest please. Those of you who know the sourdough process … More

Spicy gingerbread

The school of thought which says “develop a product to appeal to the most people” never really works. It inevitably … More

Carrot & Orange

Anything we can do to make things taste great without adding loads of sugar are big with us. This muffin … More

December Menu

We don’t go overboard on Christmas but the new December menu has a sprinkling of Christmassy things to keep it festive. … More

Ordering bread for Xmas

On our first Christmas Eve in Norwich we had customers queueing outside the door at 7am whilst we furiously loaded … More

Christmas Opening Hours

Although we’re normally closed on Mondays we’ve decided to open on Christmas Eve this year to make sure everyone has … More

Stress test

A big thank you to all customers for your patience over the last few weeks. We try to focus as … More

The sweet spot

Sugar is a bit like sunbathing, wine and spending time on the internet. Just because some is good, it doesn’t … More

Bakery Blackjack

I’m sure compulsive gamblers would love the bakery game. Before we start each week we have to gamble on whether … More

September Menu

To see our new menu click here Autumn As soon as the weather changed we started being asked “when’s the … More

A soup story

Back in 2010 we were up against it. After setting up in 2007, our organic pies business had a promising … More

August Menu

Three new Summer Cakes, new Smashed Pea, Feta and Mint Tartine, new summery drinks, new Chocolate Brioche Buns and new … More

Sharpening the saw

I used to work with a guy called Joe Garner. Joe was a young executive in a big retail business. … More

April Menu

Click here for our new menu. Sweet products get their turn for some attention this month. Two of our best-selling … More

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

I read this article the other day which said that if you really want to make sure you achieve something, … More

BBC Good Food

Lots of new faces in last week, in one of our busiest weeks ever. The power of the press or … More

Every snowy cloud

Lovely article in the EDP this week, thank you Charlotte. It brought some new faces into the bakery in a … More

February Menu

To see our new February menu click here We get asked for Bacon a lot but don’t sell it. We … More

In this part of the bakery there are 4 small rawlplugs in the floor which don’t seem to serve a … More

January Menu

Thanks to all our lovely customers for the huge support over a record Christmas period. No rest for the wicked … More

Christmas Menu

Our New Christmas Menu is now live including this Organic Stilton & Apple Tartine with fig chutney and roasted walnuts. … More

Autumn Menu

Our new Autumn menu is here. We now offer Soup & Sourdough: our own hearty soups made here from scratch, … More

Obsession

We’re back open again after our short break. Interesting to be a customer for a week and see things from … More

Daily Grind

Secrets to great coffee #1 The grinder is more important than the espresso machine. The world’s best grinder is the … More

Join the team

We are currently expanding the Kitchen Crew Job Title:                     Bakery Cook Hours:                          Part Time approx 16-20 hours, (more hours … More

Rediscover Bread

Bringing back real bread We’ve been eating bread in some shape or form for over 10,000 years. In the last … More

Brand new old fashioned

We’re a new kind of old bakery. We make bread from scratch every day, by hand, from real, natural ingredients. We combine … More

Timberhill Bread Range

Everyday Country Sourdough ½ Kg £2.75 Keeps 3-5 days A blend of white, stoneground wholemeal and rye flour. Soft, light, open … More

April Menu

Our March/ early April Menu now features an even larger Sourdough Toastie menu, 2 new cakes, another new sourdough loaf and new Soups … More

Finishing touches

Paper is off the windows. Lots of people cupping their hands on the glass looking in. Test bakes and team … More

Cafe coming together

Behind the newspapers the cafe area of the bakery is really taking shape. The furniture is all in and looks … More

Central heating

A couple of the tradesmen have pointed out the lack of heating on the powerpoint plans. “Have you forgotten heating? … More

Good neighbours

Truly amazing bread requires an oven with lots of steam. This is one of the tools of the trade that … More

Oven in its new home

Our oven has been in storage at Mono equipment in Swansea since leaving Bridgend awaiting a new home. Yesterday, once … More

No going back

So the materials have started arriving in surprisingly large quantities. Clive and Mark have started building the stud walls. Hope … More

Drain drama

One of the things we definitely got right in Bridgend was installing a drain in the floor. They had one … More

Work starts on site

Oh yes, the other thing we didn’t have enough money for was painters. Or proper painting gear. I knew those … More

Man plans, God laughs

For the people who still check in from time to time, apologies for the lack of updates. Essentially re-starting our … More

Saying goodbye to Bridgend

There’s something very sad about a previously bustling factory being stripped out. They always look grubbier and darker somehow. And … More

Gone but not forgotten

Hi Tortoise I've been buying your bread for years, most latterly from the shop in Ogmore by Sea where Julie … More

Gone but not forgotten

Dear Mike and Natalie,   I just heard that you were closing. I am gutted–not just because I thought your bread … More

Last bake in Bridgend

Up against it for Cowbridge Food Festival. The last bake was blazing. Perfectly proved and absolutely delicious. That made me … More

How to eat an elephant

After years of longing to work for yourself, if, and when, it finally happens you might find that on occasion, … More

Love from Jane & Chris

Dear Natalie and Mike Thanks you both so much for supplying us with your marvellous bread over the years.  We … More

Love from Jackie

Subject: Arrrrhhhh! You're closing! Hello TortoisebakeryIm sad you are closing.  Have only just found you via Whole Foods Canterbury.  Loved … More

Love from Moira

Hi Natalie, Thank you for supplying us with some 'real bread' which up until three weeks ago when we received … More

Love from Chris

hello natalie … yes … very sad indeed that its the final order … i remember vividly the day i … More

Love from Amy & Owen

Oh no!!!!!! I'm sorry you have to close I guess that would have been a really tough decision and I … More

Love from Mel

Hi Natalie Thanks for our final 4 loaves of your lovely bread today – I can't believe that I got … More

Love from Jeremy

I was very sorry to hear that you are closing but was pleased to read today on your site that … More

Love from Christine

Natalie, Please can I order for collection from Usk  Farmers Market on Saturday: I would have liked to have stocked up … More

Love from Claudia

Hi Natalie We are devastated! Actually I am lost for words and extremely sad to hear that you have made … More

Love from Andrew

Hi Natalie Just a note to express our sadness here on hearing your decision to relocate the Tortoise business. It's … More

Love from Louise

For our customers and us this is sad news. We have been in business 25 years and never before had … More

Love from Vivienne

Dear Natalie,  I am very sad to hear this news but I fully appreciate your reasons for closing the bakery. … More

Love from Mary

To Natalie Mike and all at Tortoise Thank you for the wonderful bread; the Best we have ever had. A … More

Love from Viola & James

Dear Natalie and Mike You have been such wonderful companions on our table with your bread! Thank you both so … More

Love from Raffaele

Hello Mick, hello Natalie, I apologize for writing to you guys directly but I couldn't see how to just leave … More

Love from Colin

Hello Mike, We've been buying your bread for some time here in Aberystwyth, but have heard that you're moving premises.  … More

Love from Antwn

Hi,  I heard yesterday that your closing the business,  moving from Bridgend?  Absolutely gutted!  Only just discovered your amazing bread … More

Love from Alison

Hi, I've been buying tortoise bakery bread from the Rainbow shop in Norwich for a while and as other customers have … More

Love from Kt

Hi, I've been buying bread from you through Arjuna in Cambridge for a while now.    I heard from them last … More

Love from Ken and Jackie

Mike, good afternoon,Thank you for your reply, having owned a seven staff business, we fully appreciate your reasons to move … More

Love from Lynda

Hi there! Just love your bread. The Post Mistress told me that in just 2 weeks you will not be … More

Love from Gemma

Dear Mike and Natalie, We are so sad to hear you are closing the bakery. I fully understand from how … More

Love from Owen

Hi Mike and Natalie. This was a sad email to receive, I can't believe it! Thank you for taking the … More

Love from Lesley

Hi there I buy your fabulous bread from the health food shop in kings langley herts every week Im so … More

Love from Janet

Mike Tortoise Bakery makes the most delicious and digestible bread I have ever eaten.  After years of avoiding gluten I … More

New horizons

After almost 8 happy years we have decided to close the bakery and move on to an exciting new challenge. … More