Arrive hungry to this Worksop bakery - there's plenty you'll want to sample

Olawa Bakery is the self-made dream of Miroslaw Zubicki, who was obsessed with baking cakes and confectionery since he was a small boy growing up in Poland.

In 2014 he visited Britain for six months, then stayed, to set up an outlet in Worksop for his culinary delights, which are works of art and have to be seen - and sampled.

The cafe sells savoury dishes too, including traditional breakfasts, and has a range of hot and iced drinks, and stunning ice cream creations.

"It was only ever the intention of me and my wife Danuta to continue to run a small bakery here," Miroslaw explained. But 12 years on from setting up in small premises in Newcastle Avenue, he has a much larger scale bakery that is something of a tardis inside, and a large, very welcoming Alpine-style cafe, plus seating outside.

Eight years ago the Zubickis gained another outlet in Nottingham, and now they have eight vans, and supply over 50 shops across Britain with bread, cakes and pastries, while welcoming local customers from all around the Worksop area.

Their daughter Inez works with them in the business, and explained how her dad worked non-stop for years to build the bakery. Even now, they close only from 6pm on Saturday evening to 6am Sunday morning.

She said: "Dad is very proud that repeat custom and word of mouth alone was responsible for the rapid growth of the business.”

In 2019 the family faced their worst challenge, when their shop on Newcastle Avenue was severely flooded.

But Miroslaw set to work and miraculously found people to help get them back on their feet, allowing the oven to be fired and baking to continue within 24 hours.

Then there was covid, but unlike many businesses the bakery flourished during that time as theirs was a service that could operate, and that people were keen to use.

Miroslaw studied speciality baking at college aged 16, and became a master baker at 19, eventually opening his own bakery.

Later, he explained, he was struggling to make ends meet in Poland. They were a family of seven, and would go fruit picking in Germany for two months of the year to boost their income.

Convinced his creations would do better in Britain, he made his exploratory trip, and the rest is history.

At the heart of the business is Miroslaw's own recipe sourdough bread, made in traditional style.

A particular favourite is the 'gladiator loaf' that is high in protein, and promoted as a healthy fuelling bread that Miroslaw credits for having helped him win so many marathons and running events - running being his second passion in life.

Sourdough has to be fed, explained Inez, and even on Christmas day her father will go into work to feed his sourdough. it takes 12 hours to produce a loaf that then retails at around £3.50.

There's another arm to the bakery too, as its cafe's large seating space can be hired for occasions including weddings, with catering as an option.

The family has no plans to move elsewhere: "We like the community in Worksop and it now feels like home", said Miroslaw.

Olawa Bakery and Cafe can be found at Unit 2, Jubilee Business Park, Kilton Road, Worksop S80 2EE.