Howes Bakery

FOR more than half a century the tantalising aroma of golden pastry and freshly baked goodies has brought generations of Middlewich families flocking to the door of one of the town's true hidden gems.

Howes Bakery, on Lewin Street, has firmly retained its place in the hearts - and stomachs - of hungry schoolchildren, residents and workers since it opened in 1952, thanks to baker John Howe.

Lunchtime queues for the family bakery's famous meat and potato pies are legendary and Howes, which sells between 300 and 400 pies and pasties a day, never fails to sell out.

Now, after almost 60 years in business, the bakery has passed into the hands of the third generation of the family in the form of brother and sister team Richard Howe and Karen Richards, who have run the shop together since 1999.

Karen, 36, said: "We used to spend ages in the bakery when we were little and we really enjoy running it.

"One of the ladies, Rose, has worked for us for 30 years and customers say they remember her from when they used to come in from school.

"They remember Rose far more than us because we are behind the scenes."

Howes was nominated as a Hidden Gem by Guardian deputy editor Hayley Smith, who said: "I think most people who have grown up in Middlewich have enjoyed a Howes pie or two over the years and I'm certainly no exception.

"At school we used to relish any chance we got to do some field work in the town as it meant we could nip into the bakery for an early lunch!

"And although I've moved out of the town since getting married, I still rate their pies among my favourite comfort foods."

Howes' meat and potato pies are the bakery's unquestionable best seller, which customers will always wait for.

Karen said: "We fresh bake everything every day and serve straight from the oven - nothing is kept warm or reheated.

"Sometimes people wait 20 to 25 minutes for the next batch.

"Meat and potato pies are the biggest seller although they didn't used to be - it used to be the confectionary side, but trends change."