NOA BAKEHOUSE
Fort Street, Douglas, IM1 2LJ
Sourdough Bakery and Coffee Shop in Douglas, Isle of Man
Creative Miles Pettit has left the world of film-making to concentrate on being a baker with his own business on the Isle of Man - the Noa Bakehouse in Fort Street, Douglas. As a visual effects producer his name has been on the credits for hot commercials including Barclaycard, Honda and Adidas. Now Londoner Miles has returned to the Island to concentrate on being a baker.
He is full of praise for local professionals who have been preparing the bakehouse on the site of the old Quality Furnishings showroom. And family and friends have also chipped in. The place officially opened for business in January, although Miles had already started selling his bread wholesale with customers including Portofino restaurant, the Bath and Bottle and leading chef Stephen Dedman at the Regency Hotel.
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Miles said he is passionate about baking and says every loaf is different. He and Pippa said their original dream was to run a ‘little bakery by the sea’. They said the site was fantastic and ideal for their needs. “
We are tenants of the Osbornes, they have been fantastic, really friendly and supportive. In fact everyone has been great on the Island. We are really excited about this new business.” He is also full of praise for the Department of Economic Development’s small business start up scheme which he said had been invaluable for learning the nitty gritty of starting your own business.
Miles described himself as a ‘back over’. Originally from London he came to the Island with his family when he was 10 and attended the QE II High School at Peel. He developed a keen interest in film and got involved in the Manx Multimedia centre where he began to build links with the Island’s film industry. “
I got involved with the Isle of Man Film Commission just when it was starting to happen and I was in the right place at the right time.” said Miles. And his name appears on the credits for a string of commercials as visual effects producer.
Miles explains that the seeds for setting up his own bakery business were sown when he started going to the E5 Bakehouse, an acclaimed East London artisan bakery and coffee shop. He would work four days a week on his film work and then would spend a day and sometimes the weekends volunteering at E5 which is passionate about sourdough and the lost traditions of our baking ancestors. Using organic, locally-sourced ingredients, they serve daily-baked breads, fresh lunches, homemade cakes and coffee. The E5 head bakers also share their knowledge and expertise in a weekly bread course.
Noa is a Manx word meaning fresh or new and Miles and Pippa are excited about their new enterprise. Miles waxes lyrical about making bread and compares the creativity involved as being something akin to film making. At the heart of the Noa Bakehouse bread making process is something rather affectionately known as ‘The Mother’. It’s not a person but a wild yeast. The Mother is at the heart of the process and Miles says it’s a ‘living wild yeast’ which constantly ferments like a beer. As far as possible he is determined to use local ingredients and customers will be able to sit down and enjoy sandwiches and coffee while watching Miles weave his magic in open view.
Now, the dream is reality and Noah Bakehouse is up and running
Greens have also joined them, selling salads from their own counter in the Bakery café, and selling all the Greens classic dishes that have been missed during their absence from Douglas.
Opening Times
Bakery - fresh sour dough bread Tuesday to Saturday
Cafe - breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday 8am-3pm
Greens Express Salad Bar
Monday - Saturday 11am to 2.30pm
Good luck with the enterprise Noa!
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