Warings Bakery celebrates 90 years since opening in Reading front room

Warings Bakery has opened six stores in the borough run by four generations of the family since Alice and Lawrence Warings began letting customers walk through an unlocked door into their Armor Road house in 1932.

Among them is Daniel Carr, 45, from Reading, who announced the original bakery has undergone a facelift to celebrate the anniversary.

“It is just an absolutely amazing achievement. I think we’re now one of the oldest businesses in Reading, beaten by a couple but not many, but we are now the oldest family bakery in Reading.

“To still be here after so many small little bakeries over the last 90 years have disappeared - and we’re still trading from our original premises, which used to be the family home - that’s incredible.”

Daniel Carr, left, as Warings Bakery is awarded Retailer of the Year at the Reading Retail Awards in 2016 (Image: Warings Bakery)

But the business, like others in Reading, has been hit by the cost of living crisis, reporting energy costs alone have increased by 130 per cent in one year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the average trading price of gas rose by 110 per cent just in the week ending November 6.

This was the biggest week-on-week increase seen throughout 2022, it said.

“We are an energy intensive business so we’ve seen that skyrocket in the last year,” said Mr Carr.

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“Things like ingredients have been climbing for quite some time anyway.”

He continued: “So it’s now the perfect storm and it’s effecting everybody – businesses and on a personal level – because it’s just a bit of a vicious roundabout.

Daniel Carr as a young boy outside Warings (front) alongside Elizabeth Warings, Steve Carr, Janet Carr, Alice Waring and Syd Waring (Image: Warings Bakery)

“We’re well aware of that and we’re trying very hard to mitigate those costs.”

Mr Carr attributed the resilience and success of Warings to a consistent demand for traditional comfort food.

“Over the last 10 years we’ve seen a real resurgence in traditional products, where people are looking for that nostalgia trip,” he said.

The bakery hopes to bring back some old favourites to celebrate its anniversary, including Marzipan Bears and Meringue Dougles.

The original Warings delivery van (Image: Warings Bakery)

The staff have been fitted with new uniforms and Waring’s second Tilehurst shop, in School Road, has also received a lick of paint and new branding.

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A competition to win a 90th anniversary gateau is now live on their website.

“It’s about having a bit of fun and it’s been great seeing some of the customer feedback that we’re getting on social media.

Alice Lousia Warings (Image: Warings Bakery)

“People that have shopped with us 50 odd years, and they’re reminiscing as well so we’re sharing those stories when we get them.”

“It’s really quite warming and puts a smile on your face.”