Richmond Hill Bakery is no question, the hub of the Richmond Hill community. 

I sit typing this article at the large table at the back, a couple has just asked if they can share my table whilst they sip their coffee and chat about the week ahead, groups of parents with children sit opposite me and a group of women are having a catch up after an exercise class. 

People are tapping away on their laptops and children are playing with the toys that are provided – it really is a place for everyone to enjoy.  

Everyone is chatting, catching up with people they know, passing the time of day with other customers.

It's often the same faces every day, it's rare nowadays for a cafe to have such a feel of community.

Graham, the owner of Richmond Hill Bakery is rushing around the cafe, smiling and greeting customers – Nub News caught up with him to find out the story behind the unique bakery.  

Richmond Hill Bakery, situated on Friars Stile Road, has been running since 2010 but Graham took the business over from its original owner in May of 2018. 

After being in the hospitality industry for 39 years, he had been searching for a business that he loved which would provide him with a good work-life balance. 

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The variety of cakes and pastries are made fresh everyday. (Photo Credit: Heather Nicholls).

Graham said: "We took a while to look for a business that was something that we liked.  

"Not hectic hours being in hospitality, this came about and we pursued it after seeing how good it was and the amount of footfall in the area." 

He added: "You can be at home with your family in the evenings and have a life beyond work. 

"I am looking for family life now and this is the best for me".  

The bakery provides fresh orange juice, delicious coffees, fresh cakes and pastries which are all baked in-house everyday.  

Graham said: "We bake in-house every single day, our bread, all our brownies, our specialty pastries all get made in-house.  

"We strive for fantastic quality of food, fresh every day. 

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"We don't recycle food, we don't sell things the next day, anything that doesn't sell gets given away."  

The bakery is an asset to the local area. (Photo Credit: Heather Nicholls).

In terms of the bakery being such an asset to the local area, he said: "Obviously the most important thing is customer service.  

"Get to know your customers, what they like, what they don't like.  

"It's like a show, the curtain opens at 7am and you do your trading during the day, you look after your customers, give them what they want, spoil them and find out how they're doing. 

"They seem to always come back and they seem to really like the environment.  

"It's a very community-driven shop.

"We were very well supported during COVID and we just continued being supported by the community." 

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Richmond Hill Bakery is open everyday day from 7am to 5pm.