Bicester: Bakery on Gordon Ramsay BBC show to open in town

Boles Bakery will open on Crown Walk in Bicester town centre after owner Naomi Boles, from Aylesbury bought the premises in April.

Earlier this year, Naomi took part in Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars where 12 entrepreneurs battled for a £150,000 investment from the TV chef for their food business.

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Despite not winning the prize money, Naomi is set to open up her own bakery after taking part in the show.

The bakery’s latest Instagram posted they are “getting closer” to revealing the opening date.

When buying the premises, a social media post said: “It’s official! Finally, my name is on the dotted line and the keys are in my hands!

“Now the countdown until opening which I’m hoping will be pretty quick- pray for me (and all my friends and family being dragged in to help!)”

Naomi describes the bakery as a “social enterprise” looking to employ people struggling to get back into work.

A bakery social media post said: “We’re all about getting people into work so if you’re interested but think you don’t have enough experience, it would be tricky with childcare or any other barrier, then get in contact because you’re our kind of person!”

The bakery has previously had stalls at Bicester Friday Market.

A market social media post said: “We are also sending loads of luck to Naomi at Boles Bakery, who, after using the market as a start to her business, is going into a unit in Crown Walk.”

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Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars saw challenges set over eight weeks created to test the contestants’ business acumen, unlike other cookery shows.

Speaking to the BBC, Naomi said: “I wanted to take part in the show to experience things I never would in my normal day-to-day life and to meet people I otherwise wouldn’t.

“I saw places in the country I had never been to before, got to do challenges I would never have done in my typical work or personal life and met some cracking people.

“It was challenging and stressful and I missed my kids every day, but I’d do it all again because it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“My biggest challenge was working in a team dynamic with personality types I wouldn’t normally work with.

“I typically choose the people that I work with, so having to work with people I would clash with in a high-pressure situation whilst remaining professional was a challenge at times.”