Very friendly staff
Quality produce at a quality price
A mean fry up
Maher & Sons Bakers sell a wide range of freshly baked goods as well as a selection of sandwiches and pastries. Pavement seating is provided.
Maher & Sons Bakers
Bakery at 56 Durham Road
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No longer at this address
Our records show that Maher & Sons Bakers is closed.
3 / 10 from 76 reviews
Region
Raynes Park
Raynes Park
Category
Bakeries
Bakeries
User Reviews
Kevin Black
from Raynes Park
from Raynes Park
Sep 15, 2013
avid reader
Apr 12, 2011
Hello London:
Just to inform you,
'Mary Queen of Shops' episode has finally aired here in Australia last night.
Being a professional baker myself I was very disappointed to watch this episode,which begs the question,is the owner Angela still in business?...
Just to inform you,
'Mary Queen of Shops' episode has finally aired here in Australia last night.
Being a professional baker myself I was very disappointed to watch this episode,which begs the question,is the owner Angela still in business?...
Response from
MaxH
Yes, the bakery is still open and sorry to inform but the 'Mary Queen of Shops' episode, was a miss conception of the actual establishment. the producer chose 'Mahers & sons bakery' as they knew the owner with traditional values would bit back and be reluctant to change. well of course, its in everyones nature, the business has been her life and baby for the past 49 years, soon to turn 50. i have now worked for angela for the past 2 years now, the footage you saw was just repeats from one day, when the shop so happened to be empty. surly you must know that in any business you are going to have a slow day or hour when the establishment is empty. especially seeing the business is not on a main high street, you are going to get a quite hour or two. our main consumer are the local families and elderly. not to mention to local church groups who have been coming to us now since the day the shop opened. We have improved on several different areas of the shop including: appearance of the establishment, variety in both food and drink (take away & dining) and above all costumer stratification. the bakery is a striving business with traditional values (something which, in todays society we as consumers have seemed to of forgotten about) and has countlessly been able to provide 'Out standing' costumer satisfaction and hygiene cleanliness. surly the business is not doing as well as the major corporations like Greags or Costa... but we are a modest little bakery with a real connection to the local community and our consumer, the bakery has survived for this long... surly mrs maher must of done something right...
So to sum up...
The bakery is a striving business and has been for the past (almost) 50 years and will remain open for years to come.
So to sum up...
The bakery is a striving business and has been for the past (almost) 50 years and will remain open for years to come.
Aug 29, 2012
Anonymous
Jun 27, 2010
I would just like to say how much admiration i have for Mary in resisting the urge to slap the owner of this business. She does not deserve to have such a gifted baker i hope he gets offered a better job and leaves her in the lurch cos she obviously doesn@t appreciate him.Yours sincerely sue B
Response from
gary simms baker
Angela is a good boss /she should take Mary to court for trying to run her bakery down just for
good TV.People travel far and wide to shop at the bakery.IF the baker cant do as he is told then yes he should go .I would work for Angela again .Gary
good TV.People travel far and wide to shop at the bakery.IF the baker cant do as he is told then yes he should go .I would work for Angela again .Gary
May 11, 2013
Anonymous
Jun 26, 2010
Well, you bake your bed, you lie in it...
I can't imagine Maher and sons will be around by my next visit to Raynes Park.
I can't imagine Maher and sons will be around by my next visit to Raynes Park.
Anonymous
Jun 19, 2010
Words cannot explain how angry seeing the recent BBC show, featuring this bakery. Shouldn't have applied for help if you didn't want it
Anonymous
Jun 19, 2010
I'm really sad to have seen this woman destroy her own chance of saving her business. I'm sure she's worked hard, and sent her kids to school and all that. But she's missed a great opportunity. How very sad.
Anonymous
Jun 17, 2010
I think what was most telling was Mrs Mahers constant talking about being in business for 36 years, combined with a total lack of knowledge of which products actually produced the hard cash and also her lack of knowledge of the names and types of different breads from across Europe.
If I had spent 36 years doing that, I would have known every single detail and nook and cranny of the bakery business. She didn't even get the concept of making the specialist breads from scratch!
To be fair she's got 36 years of icing fairy cakes. No business acumen (she doesn't know her figures, and know industry knowledge)
People bang on about Tesco killing the high street - after watching this i'm not too sure. There seems to be a lot of independent retailers that really don't know what they're doing.
One commentator on here complained that people were prepared to pay £3 a loaf. He/She obviously doesn't understand retail then. If you can make that sort of money then you're onto a winner. You don't knock people that put cash in your pocket!
If I had spent 36 years doing that, I would have known every single detail and nook and cranny of the bakery business. She didn't even get the concept of making the specialist breads from scratch!
To be fair she's got 36 years of icing fairy cakes. No business acumen (she doesn't know her figures, and know industry knowledge)
People bang on about Tesco killing the high street - after watching this i'm not too sure. There seems to be a lot of independent retailers that really don't know what they're doing.
One commentator on here complained that people were prepared to pay £3 a loaf. He/She obviously doesn't understand retail then. If you can make that sort of money then you're onto a winner. You don't knock people that put cash in your pocket!
Anonymous
Jun 16, 2010
I for one would not buy the sickly over-sweet cakes that look as though a 4 year old decorated them blind-folded!
Angela is stuck in her time warp and I know someone who will hire Paul offering a very high salary to boot.
The '36 years' comment she continually makes means nothing if consumers are going elsewhere to buy better cakes and speciality breads.
Angela is stuck in her time warp and I know someone who will hire Paul offering a very high salary to boot.
The '36 years' comment she continually makes means nothing if consumers are going elsewhere to buy better cakes and speciality breads.
Anonymous
Jun 15, 2010
As a Maher myself.I am disgusted with the attitude of the owner.Mrs Maher asked for help and then threw all ideas out of the window with her smart mouth attitude.
Mahers in general are a proud people of Irish decent.This woman has let the family name down.Shame on you.
In future listen.
Mahers in general are a proud people of Irish decent.This woman has let the family name down.Shame on you.
In future listen.
Anonymous
Jun 15, 2010
My, what a place this could have been if she took the challenge and shut her mouth. This place is just another one of those bakeries that I never go in, may as well be a chain of bakeries with their white this and white that....move on or move out and make way for the real bakeries.....how narrow minded.
Anonymous
Jun 14, 2010
I completely agree with everyonelse. I have never been so annoyd with a tv programme and i found it hard to understand how someone can be so blind and unable to move forward. Bless paul though for his sake i hope thos bakery continues to open.
Anonymous
Jun 14, 2010
I think the shop looked charming, like a little haven of past times in a world of Starbucks,and I say fair play to Angela for standing up to that overpaid 'expert' of the type that has become all too common in these style-obsessed times. I accept that perhaps Angela was stubborn, but these programmes are carefully edited, and who knows what was left out? Mary Portas is so full of her own importance that she was incredulous that anybody might challenge her opinions and not go along with her plans. She has a patronising demeanour and was positively insulting to the staff she encountered in the previous Charity Shop programme. Unlike the lovely ladies who give up their time for no reward, I very much doubt the likes of Ms Portas would would be prepared to work for nothing!
I can see that perhaps Maher and Son might benefit from some new direction in their baking, but I found the little cakes charming for children - and such a nice change from the current abhorrent epidemic of trendy 'cupcakes' which seem to have saturated the cake market. As for the residents of Raynes Park, the fact that they would be perfectly happy to pay £3 for a loaf of bread, when a large proportion of this country's families are struggling as a result of the large food price rises of recent years, speaks absolute volumes about the sad state of our country and the inequalities within it. Nothing embodies those inequalities more than people like Mary Portas.
I can see that perhaps Maher and Son might benefit from some new direction in their baking, but I found the little cakes charming for children - and such a nice change from the current abhorrent epidemic of trendy 'cupcakes' which seem to have saturated the cake market. As for the residents of Raynes Park, the fact that they would be perfectly happy to pay £3 for a loaf of bread, when a large proportion of this country's families are struggling as a result of the large food price rises of recent years, speaks absolute volumes about the sad state of our country and the inequalities within it. Nothing embodies those inequalities more than people like Mary Portas.
Anonymous
Jun 12, 2010
Mary Portas was totally inappropriate for dealing with Angela Maher. She came dressed up to the nines looking like a clown to win round a gentle, kind and hard-working admirable woman. Angela has grown that business to support her family, paying for private education, looking after her aging father and being the first ever to volunteer to help wherever help is needed. Well done Angela, you should be on the Queen's Birthday List. I am so sorry you were taken out of your comfort zone and made to look hostile when you were only defending your ground.
Anonymous
Jun 11, 2010
To be fair I have not been to the bakery and only watched the Mary Queen of Shops programme, and I am speachless, fair enough someone many be a stubborn, domineering crazy woman. But why go on television to show millions of people that? Only to lose the free shopfit with 'floor' that was obviously the only reason you applied to go on the programme and 'play along' in the first place.
I think avoid like the plague may be an appropriate phrase. Why go to a place where the owner obviously has so little respect for their customers? How can older people not realise that everything is much more competitive these days and that the only reason their businesses were successful previously is because of the utter lack of competition and not because of the quality of their produce. The chaff is finally getting kicked out by the wheat and anything less than a stellar product simply can't survive in today's economy. Thank god as a nation people's tastes are finally improving. And I can't belive what a complete and total snob the owner is.
I think avoid like the plague may be an appropriate phrase. Why go to a place where the owner obviously has so little respect for their customers? How can older people not realise that everything is much more competitive these days and that the only reason their businesses were successful previously is because of the utter lack of competition and not because of the quality of their produce. The chaff is finally getting kicked out by the wheat and anything less than a stellar product simply can't survive in today's economy. Thank god as a nation people's tastes are finally improving. And I can't belive what a complete and total snob the owner is.
Anonymous
Jun 11, 2010
My, but we do all expect our TV narratives to conform to the expected arc. Usually, the young proponents of reality TV play their roles at least as well as if they had been scripted. So when someone with some life confidence and character resists the stereotypes the audience scorns them. I'm depressed to see so many people feeling they have the right to criticise a woman who has achieved more than many of us have in life (that's Angela, not Mary). I love artisan breads white and brown, 'healthy' and 'unhealthy', and the new generation of makers and shops, and eschew supermarket bread. But trying to shoehorn Maher's into that new vernacular wasn't appropriate, or particularly sensitive. The new designs suggested for the shop were clearly not close enough to Angela's natural style for her to be able to support them: they were faintly patronising with their shabby chic nostalgia. I think Mary's ideas would have worked well with another baker, but she didn't have another baker and knew from the start that Angela had strong opinions and a conservative streak. Judgement of character is as important to business success as an understanding of the market. And who's to say that using pre-made 'speciality' bread mixes wouldn't have worked for Angela? At least until the programme publicly humilated her for it. There was something a little unpleasant going on between the lines here.
Anonymous
Jun 11, 2010
I sincerely hopes the wonderful baker gets headhunted to a much, much better job where he is appreciated. I am completely baffled that people like Angela actually exist!
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
Maher's better enjoy the initial blip of interest the shop will receive from curious passing custom (like drivers who slow down when passing by a car crash on the opposite side of the motorway) I suspect Ms Maher has just put an end to her 36 year business by displaying a complete lack of acumen (pre) mixed in with a sprinkling of her appalling lack of manners and a pinch of sheer stupidity.
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
You could strike me down with a feather. If I was faced with the invaluable opportunity of having Mary Portas rethink my business and modernise it in the face of stiff competition coming my way I WOULD JUMP AT IT HEAD FIRST. It is tragic that you did not embrace her advice not to mention a completely free shop refit by one of the most talented designers in this part of the world. It would cost you many thousands to get a refit anywhere near the calibre that was offered to you.
I am afraid to say that given the choice of your regular breads against a veritable selection of artisan breads available in Waitrose, I would certainly settle for the latter.
Words are simply beyond me! After all, did you not ask for Mary advice to help your business? I am afraid to say that brushing aside such sought after advice from Queen Mary will not get you very far in today's times.
The wealth of experience you have in the baking trade is a great unique selling point. You could have leveraged on this with pictures of when you produced that first loaf, etc. Coupled with the outstanding baker you have, your business could really go places. If only...
I am afraid to say that given the choice of your regular breads against a veritable selection of artisan breads available in Waitrose, I would certainly settle for the latter.
Words are simply beyond me! After all, did you not ask for Mary advice to help your business? I am afraid to say that brushing aside such sought after advice from Queen Mary will not get you very far in today's times.
The wealth of experience you have in the baking trade is a great unique selling point. You could have leveraged on this with pictures of when you produced that first loaf, etc. Coupled with the outstanding baker you have, your business could really go places. If only...
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
I watched the Mary Queen of Shops programme and was inraged. Paul the baker is amazing, it's just a real shame he has such a selfish and unsupportive boss. Saying that he couldn't do more variety, well may be he could if she let him! I really don't understand why she applied for this programme if she want see that she needed the help because she's not an expert. Funny that after the programme she revenarated the shop herself.... open to segestion, yeah ok angela. And Paul, I love you!
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
I am shocked. As a shop owner myself, I would relish the opportunity to have Mary and her wonderful team come and give me an honest and sympathetic overview of my business. What i would not do is be argumentative and impatient and downright rude in the face of such a valuable opportunity.
She has 36 years experience, as was rammed into our brains repeatedly as we watched, but 36 years experience of what? Of making the same old cakes and bread day in day out. There is nothing to be learnt from doing the same thing over and over again. I have 29 years experience of scratching my ...head, but that doesn't make me an infallible expert.
Infuriating. Unbelievable. Sad. What a blithering fool.
She has 36 years experience, as was rammed into our brains repeatedly as we watched, but 36 years experience of what? Of making the same old cakes and bread day in day out. There is nothing to be learnt from doing the same thing over and over again. I have 29 years experience of scratching my ...head, but that doesn't make me an infallible expert.
Infuriating. Unbelievable. Sad. What a blithering fool.
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
I think the tragedy of this business is that the longevity of the owner (36 years) is a unique selling point. If you did up the shop in a way as suggested, the 36 years could become a major competitive advantage. You could put up the history of the place in frames with photos of Mrs Maher and her husband. What that is saying then is that there is quality, experience and high service that Waitrose can never match with its bored 17 year old on their bread counter. What you cannot do though is use the 36 years as a barrier to never change. The cafe im sure does good things, id happily go in there for a tea and sandwich if i was in the area. But it could do so much more. The bread shop and cake shops visited showed the potential.
Maybe Mrs Maher should retire. Although maybe Mr Maher would be horrified at this suggestion, as he probably has a chance to relax whiles shes at work. When i first saw the show, i felt sympathy for the shop. Now if it closed, id feel little sympathy for Mrs Maher. I would however feel gutted for her baker Paul, whose a major, and totally undervalued asset to her business. I think the best solution would be for either a takeover, with someone new transforming the business, or for someone to invest in the business and hand over much more responsibility to Paul to be creative.
Maybe Mrs Maher should retire. Although maybe Mr Maher would be horrified at this suggestion, as he probably has a chance to relax whiles shes at work. When i first saw the show, i felt sympathy for the shop. Now if it closed, id feel little sympathy for Mrs Maher. I would however feel gutted for her baker Paul, whose a major, and totally undervalued asset to her business. I think the best solution would be for either a takeover, with someone new transforming the business, or for someone to invest in the business and hand over much more responsibility to Paul to be creative.
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
Hi I regularly watch Mary Queen of Shops as I am a small business myself and infact rang to go onto this series as over the last couple of years I to have seen a steady decrease in the profits we are making.I cannot BELIEVE that another small business owner has not taken Mary Portas' advice with open arms and embraced all her retailing experience.ANGELA YOU APPLIED TO GO ONTO THE SHOW!!!!! what a waste I would have grabbed the chance with open arms.You kept bleating on about that you had been in business for 36 years unfortunately I think not for much longer if you don't change.Waitrose is coming to the end of your road and all your potential customers, the yummy mummys are going to be walking right past your door..... It just apppered that you applied for a free refit of your shop and you are still intent on churning out your jam tarts,happy faces biscuits etc.Let Paul excel at his speciality breads then you may have a chance of still making good profits against the threat of a major supermarket.Angela don't you feel left out throw out the jam tart moulds and have a go at making some up market fresh cream tarts with real fruit!!!! What have you got to lose now?? If your business wasn't struggling before Mary Queen of Shops it will be now.Why bring her in if you weren't prepared to have a go!.You will never know now!! You said it wasn't about money but honestly IT WAS.YOU CANNOT RUN A BUSINESS ON FRESH AIR AND WHEN THE MONEY HAS RUN OUT SO WILL THE ROAD!!!!!!!
LOL FROM A FRUSTRATED SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
LOL FROM A FRUSTRATED SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
Just watched the program (I live in California); I would love to have a local bakery with the talented Paul creating his art (bread is life and bread baking is an art) every morning. It saddens me to see a man so dejected because he has to work for such a negative, insecure, bitter woman. Here's hoping that Hobbs House buys out Ms. Maher and provides the neighborhood with delicious, healthy, modern goods; and makes Paul the master baker.
Anonymous
Jun 9, 2010
OK, I work in media, so I understand it... they shot you and made it look the way they wanted to...
I agree, they did probably make it look worse than it was, editorial licence, however, your business has slowly declined over 36 years, or however many it has dropped for.
I love the romanticism of it all, but in reality, give the peeps what they want. You are sadley out of touch, and that is the one thing I fear most in life, becuase I trade on understanding consumer choice.
A real shame
I agree, they did probably make it look worse than it was, editorial licence, however, your business has slowly declined over 36 years, or however many it has dropped for.
I love the romanticism of it all, but in reality, give the peeps what they want. You are sadley out of touch, and that is the one thing I fear most in life, becuase I trade on understanding consumer choice.
A real shame
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I am afraid this bakers is doomed with this lady in charge. She is not prepared to believe anyone else has any better ideas than her. Extremely rude to the master baker she visited and dismissive to the leading designer who had designed a refit which I am sure would have been extremely expensive if she had had to pay for it.
Iam not sure why she applied to be on the show.
After 36 years she obviously believes she knows it all!!!
Iam not sure why she applied to be on the show.
After 36 years she obviously believes she knows it all!!!
bever1
Jun 8, 2010
Angela dear - WIATROSE IS coming to the end of your road and not too long now looking at the building work. Have you seen what a wonderful range of bread, rolls and cakes their stores do ? Wonder where the mummies of Raynes Park will go when it opens.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Having watched Mary, Queen of shops last night I'm amazed that this woman had the cheek to apply to appear on a television show if she has no interest in any of the free advice being given by a retail guru.
Out of interest though does anyone know how long she haas been in business? I think she might have mentioned it once, but I wasn't really paying any attention.
I hope Paul the baker gets a new job where his skills are appreciated - and I hope Angela fails with her sorry excuse for a bakery, and she meets the producction costs for a tv show she applied to go on and then refused to complete.
Out of interest though does anyone know how long she haas been in business? I think she might have mentioned it once, but I wasn't really paying any attention.
I hope Paul the baker gets a new job where his skills are appreciated - and I hope Angela fails with her sorry excuse for a bakery, and she meets the producction costs for a tv show she applied to go on and then refused to complete.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Having just viewed the Mary Queen of Shops episode of the Maher and Sons bakery, I was saddened to watch a bakery and 'community' in its death throes.Fear of change must rate as one of the most destructive of all emotions. I do not feel sorry for Angela at all, however, as she had the opportunity to meet several artisans of the trade and she chose to ignore the bleeding obvious. The 1970s was never known for its cuisine, so why continue to inflict it on a public which has moved on. I do feel sorry for Paul, a man who is willing to learn and grow. I almost hoped to see in the credits that he had moved to that lovely bakery in Cumbria! There are just so many white loaves and pre-mixed pumpkin brioches that a man can tolerate.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Angela, what you knew and 'Giddy' Mary hadn't realised is that you'll be right back in fashion in 36 years time.
Customers......... what do they know about baking?!!
Customers......... what do they know about baking?!!
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Just watched the BBC show that featured this business. I'll be another potential customer that the bakery just lost.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I cannot believe what I have seen on Mary Queen of Shops. The manager of this place is a control freak and rude is a complete understatement. The way she spoke to the man of the Hobbs bakery was disguisting and completely unforgiveable considering he excelled in the Baking profession and quite cleary was far more capable than the jealous Angela. I feel very sorry for her son who must have obviously been very embarrassed at the programme and probably wishes he hadnt have shown his face on National TV as being related to the Hag. She heavily under appreciated her own staff especially Paul whose baking was impecable. I hope he gets headhunted to work somewhere his talents appreciated and his is a valuable member of a team. I feel very sorry for this shop.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I would never use the bakery after seeing the "Mary Queen of Shops" programme last night. Angela, the owner seemed so rude, is she like that with her customers?. She seemed stuck in the past and this establishment will not last much longer. I feel sorry for the staff who have had to work with this awful woman and will soon lose their jobs.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Amazing that you didnt take the advice of a retail expert - I put it down to you being scared of change - even when it's obviously needed. Your breads and cakes were laughable and why you dont utilise the skills of your baker is beyond me. Did you do the programme just to get a free refit? Truely infuriating - you need to listen to the good advice that was kindly being offered to you and maybe your business will survive to live a 37th year.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I'm so sad that this woman rejected Mary Portas's offers of constructive help. My sorrow goes to all of her staff, who are all sadly going to sink with her, particularly the fabulously talented baker she employed, who became fired with enthusiasm and positively sparkled when he was encouraged to create some artisan breads for the bakery The owner slapped him down and discouraged his creativity. And she ends up using bread ready mixes of the type we can all obtain from the supermarket. I certainly wouldn't give her my custom - nor should anyone else! She doesn't deserve it, sadly.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
What a shame Angela could not take any advice from Mary Portas. I would welcome the opportunity to have Mary's point of view in my shop. Being a shop owner, I am fully supportive of independent businesses but I'm afraid this business does not deserve to survive. The food for sale looked awful and if Angela is not willing to change, well.....
Times are changing and we have to move with the times whether we like it or not. Angela, if you read this, you should be ashamed of your behaviour on TV, you made a complete fool of yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if your staff left you to go and work for Waitrose - I hope they do.
I bet your business suffers even more now after that showdown.
Times are changing and we have to move with the times whether we like it or not. Angela, if you read this, you should be ashamed of your behaviour on TV, you made a complete fool of yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if your staff left you to go and work for Waitrose - I hope they do.
I bet your business suffers even more now after that showdown.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
WAKE up and smell the coffee Angela - save your crust now or live to regret it.
LISTEN to Mary - Raynes Park has changed in 36 years, the consumer base has changed, Raynes Park has radically changed - take a drive around the area, visit other shops, look at your potential customer in the street, they are young working professionals, it's now an AFFLUENT area. The days of 25p for a white loaf and 10p for a jam tart or pastries full of fat, colours and preservatives are over!
Let your husband's legacy live on, don't let him down now - take your head out of the sand and put the 'Baking' back into your Bakery - people WILL pay for better quality breads, you heard first hand - the Yummy Mummies want better quality crust and they are willing to pay up to £2 for a good loaf! STOP procrastinating and invest in quality baking or you will lose your business.
LISTEN to Mary - Raynes Park has changed in 36 years, the consumer base has changed, Raynes Park has radically changed - take a drive around the area, visit other shops, look at your potential customer in the street, they are young working professionals, it's now an AFFLUENT area. The days of 25p for a white loaf and 10p for a jam tart or pastries full of fat, colours and preservatives are over!
Let your husband's legacy live on, don't let him down now - take your head out of the sand and put the 'Baking' back into your Bakery - people WILL pay for better quality breads, you heard first hand - the Yummy Mummies want better quality crust and they are willing to pay up to £2 for a good loaf! STOP procrastinating and invest in quality baking or you will lose your business.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
She was so rude, this lady needs to get her head stuck out of seventies. I live near London and there is no way she will ever get my trade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
How many of these people have actually been to the shop, i think the cakes and bread looked lovely, love the bloomer. Would shop here any day, Lots of love, Mary Portas xo
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I have been eating bread for 36 years, no-one knows more about the bread I have eaten than I do, having notched up 36 years of dough related experiences. Over three and a half decades of bready adventures have given me numerous anecdotes that I am keen to share with the public, and I know exactly what they want. Is anyone as knowledgable as me about bread? Did you know there are lots of different types of bread. There's brown bread, crusty bread, white bread and wholemeal bread. Four different types, it's a wonder I can keep count. And rolls. Soft rolls, crusty rolls and toilet rolls, ha ha ha. That's a joke. It's the sort of thing that bakers find funny. Love and peace, Max.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
What a shame that potential and free advice will not be grabbed with both hands. It would be a shame if the business goes under and the excellent, willing and obliging baker loses his job.
For many years I use to live in Crouch End and Dunn's the local bakers was a place I constantly used. Now when I visit London I will ALWAYS pay a visit and it is still a hive of constant activity and they continue to grow and adapt.
There are still favourites I use to buy 20yrs ago, but they continue to try out new products and extend their range.
Dunn`s still remains the same, the décor has not changed very much, but Dunn's bakery has a timeless look about it, and not stuck in an era. They have even embraced technology and also have a web page
I hope Maher`s will try to take on board over time the advice offered, this could be a fabulous winner.
For many years I use to live in Crouch End and Dunn's the local bakers was a place I constantly used. Now when I visit London I will ALWAYS pay a visit and it is still a hive of constant activity and they continue to grow and adapt.
There are still favourites I use to buy 20yrs ago, but they continue to try out new products and extend their range.
Dunn`s still remains the same, the décor has not changed very much, but Dunn's bakery has a timeless look about it, and not stuck in an era. They have even embraced technology and also have a web page
I hope Maher`s will try to take on board over time the advice offered, this could be a fabulous winner.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Ah what an eye opening programme Mary Queen of Scots was. I lived in bristol where a smaller shop has a queue for specialist break half way down the street on a Saturday morning. There is a massive market for this product, the shop is in a prime location and the owner is happy to sit and rot in the 1970's. Well I wish her all the luck in the world competing with Waitrose as she will need it, and with the market to make her a booming business being ignored point blank. 36 means not a jot if you are about to go out of business. The customer is always right, I believe is the phrase that pays.
Shame, crying shame.
Shame, crying shame.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Re Mary Queen of Shops programme-
What a pity Mary Portas's advice was so coldly rejected by the atypical Jewish matriarch bakery owner, Angela Maher. Her shop is stuck in the past and will be soon be consumed by the behemoth supermarkets offering similar bland products for less. she should drop the moniker '& sons' because the don't seem to have much gumption when it comes to making a decision. My advice: get your breads, cakes and pastries from somewhere else in the neighbourhood and leave Maher & 'Sons' to carry on regardless.
What a pity Mary Portas's advice was so coldly rejected by the atypical Jewish matriarch bakery owner, Angela Maher. Her shop is stuck in the past and will be soon be consumed by the behemoth supermarkets offering similar bland products for less. she should drop the moniker '& sons' because the don't seem to have much gumption when it comes to making a decision. My advice: get your breads, cakes and pastries from somewhere else in the neighbourhood and leave Maher & 'Sons' to carry on regardless.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Ok, I have left my comment as neutral, as I have not eaten here so can't rate the actual food. However, I felt bad for Angela's son, as I'm sure he must be so embarrassed at his mothers behaviour on Mary Queen of Shops. I was astounded to see the way she treated the gentleman in that one bakery that had been around since the 1920's. She verbally attacked the poor man and rude is an understatement! Her lack of faith in her own baker Paul and her attitude to the filming crew and Mary was truly awful.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I found it difficult not to shout at the television. Her spread of cakes, mostly with faces painted on, made me want to vomit. No child wants to entertain this sickly sludge.
The year is 2010. I feed my children wholegrains and natural ingredients, which they favour 100 percent of the time. I bake at home and they clearly can see a difference in homemade and processed foods. I would never select any of the items from this shop as it is all junk-food.
This woman will take no help or advise. I wonder how much of her produce goes directly into the bin or does she serve it again the next day!!!
Her staff will leave and her shop will go under within 12 months by my reckoning.
The year is 2010. I feed my children wholegrains and natural ingredients, which they favour 100 percent of the time. I bake at home and they clearly can see a difference in homemade and processed foods. I would never select any of the items from this shop as it is all junk-food.
This woman will take no help or advise. I wonder how much of her produce goes directly into the bin or does she serve it again the next day!!!
Her staff will leave and her shop will go under within 12 months by my reckoning.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
She was given a wonderful opportunity and slapped it right in Mary's face. Once Waitrose is in situ I can't see the business lasting. It's such a shame as I am always for supporting your local business. Her poor son!!
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I agree what a horrible woman and so what 36 years times move on! Her manner to everyone offering advise was discusting, what is she like with customers!!!
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
This small uninviting bakery/cafe/tea room (does there need to be more) was as dismal in appearance on the outside as it's staff were on the inside.
Wanting a small pastry to take the edge off my pre-dinner pangs, I was shocked by the small, petrified lumps of dough on offer. I was even more taken aback that they wanted me to pay for these or that I would consider consuming them.
Where had the smell of fresh bread baking gone to, where were the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere?
More than likely lost in time...
On the plus side the nearby Waitrose had one of my favourite breads in that day.
How delightful.
Wanting a small pastry to take the edge off my pre-dinner pangs, I was shocked by the small, petrified lumps of dough on offer. I was even more taken aback that they wanted me to pay for these or that I would consider consuming them.
Where had the smell of fresh bread baking gone to, where were the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere?
More than likely lost in time...
On the plus side the nearby Waitrose had one of my favourite breads in that day.
How delightful.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
Just saw that women on TV. Omg, I just couldn't believe what i saw. As said before, I wouldn't buy anything there.
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
The owner is an arrogant , know it all ! The bread and cakes are stuck in the past , no wonder business is dropping off .There is more choice in Waitrose than her shop , and more pleasant service ! She may have been a baker for 36 years but can't bake a loaf herself , avoid this place at all costs !
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2010
I cannot imagine that many people would be impressed by the way Angela treated Mary or her staff. How many times can you repeat that you have been in business for 36 years doing the same thing.
In 1973 we ate a lot of things that were poor quality and too high in sugar etc. In the last 15 years we have changed our eating habits and the sort of foods we eat now
are very different. If you went in Harrods in 1973, you would have had the same quality but they have adapted to what people want today.
We have good bakeries in Crouch End but I know they bake the bread from scratch unlike Angela who seems to want to use mixes and charge customers a premium. Thats how Sainsbury, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons make their breads so cheaply.
I would never look at someone and judge them the way Angela did, based on their age etc, and then be so rude as to say the baker looked tired. What was tiring was to hear this old women repeatedly say she had been in business for 36 years. I wonder if
Lord Sugar would be impressed that in 36 years she is making less profit than she did before.
Angela, I am sure you are a lovely women and maybe you jumped to the wrong conclusion as to what Mary was trying to do. Mary has a very impressive record of turning around companies and sadly you dont. Maybe you should look at the BBC TV again and talk it through with your son.
I think as its says & Sons, you should have got your son involved from the start, but it seems clear that he probably does not get involved because of the way that
you treat people. Unlike that bakery you went to see where they had been there since 1920 and it has passed to the Grandson now.
I think you owe a lot of people some respect and to say sorry for the way you have treated them. Like most people who watched the TV show, it was sad that we did not
see a business that had been improved and increased your profits.
All the best.
In 1973 we ate a lot of things that were poor quality and too high in sugar etc. In the last 15 years we have changed our eating habits and the sort of foods we eat now
are very different. If you went in Harrods in 1973, you would have had the same quality but they have adapted to what people want today.
We have good bakeries in Crouch End but I know they bake the bread from scratch unlike Angela who seems to want to use mixes and charge customers a premium. Thats how Sainsbury, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons make their breads so cheaply.
I would never look at someone and judge them the way Angela did, based on their age etc, and then be so rude as to say the baker looked tired. What was tiring was to hear this old women repeatedly say she had been in business for 36 years. I wonder if
Lord Sugar would be impressed that in 36 years she is making less profit than she did before.
Angela, I am sure you are a lovely women and maybe you jumped to the wrong conclusion as to what Mary was trying to do. Mary has a very impressive record of turning around companies and sadly you dont. Maybe you should look at the BBC TV again and talk it through with your son.
I think as its says & Sons, you should have got your son involved from the start, but it seems clear that he probably does not get involved because of the way that
you treat people. Unlike that bakery you went to see where they had been there since 1920 and it has passed to the Grandson now.
I think you owe a lot of people some respect and to say sorry for the way you have treated them. Like most people who watched the TV show, it was sad that we did not
see a business that had been improved and increased your profits.
All the best.