Written by Ben Clark

My names Ben and I am the owner and general meddler of The Pantry at Baythorne Hall, many will know the business by the previous name of Ben & Ella’s Farm Shop, however with my quest for world domination well on the way a new and slightly changed business has appeared.

Previously focussing solely on the bread venture of the business I have spread my metaphorical wings and taken on to the full running of the business in all its exhausting glory. While my darling wife is proud of me (at least in public) taking on this venture I am confident my parents are just glad I’m finally making use of my business degree for once.

Baking has always been a passion for me that was indoctrinated into me very early by my mother as her grandmother did for her. The kitchen was always a comfortable place for me to cause my own brand of chaos and while young my best memories were rooting through Be-Ro cookbooks to make whatever fantastical 90’s creation caught my eye. As I got older, I was committed to being a baker and living a life of black-eyed sleepless creativity, however my brother when I was 14 very quickly crushed that with the simple words of “yeah but that’s not gonna make you any money”. Blinded by the greed of youth I did indeed decide an office job might be safer, until I graduated university and found my self employed for a generic finance company, and quickly realised that this was not for me.

Puzzled on what to do in life mum came to the rescue by reminding me that cooking was always what I loved. So, I left for Switzerland and spent the next 2 years learning everything I could about Baking and Swiss patisserie, eating half the cakes I made as well, I returned home feeling confident I knew everything I needed. Beginning my career working in several Michelin star restaurants, this was where coincidentally I met my previous business partner and a few years later we opened what has now become through trail and error The Pantry.

While still evolving the business and changing every month The Pantry is fresh faced and ready for anything.