Mother's now in charge of Devon House bakery
Published:Thursday | December 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE BAKERY on the grounds of Kingston's historic Devon House is to reopen today, operated by the fast-food company Mother's Patties, in what for Mother's will be an extension of its product range.
Carlysle Hudson, Mother's managing director, said the company has spent $30 million in the outfitting of the bakery, which has been given the simplest of names: The Devon House Bakery.
"We have undertaken a complete remodelling of the interior and exterior of the retail outlet and production facilities while retaining the historical architectural features," said Hudson.
Thirty people will be employed at the bakery.
Built in the 19th century, Devon House is now a museum with outbuildings housing restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops.
The bakery has been closed for several months since its former operator, Catherine Radlein, relocated amid a dispute with the government company that manages Devon House. Radlein went with the name Brick Oven, by which the facility was known for over two decades.
Mother's, which has a string of outlets mainly in Kingston, has until now offered patties and other quick-meal options, but not the type of fare for which Brick Oven was well known.
But Hudson said that Devon House Bakery will have the kind of fancy cakes, pastries and other desserts for which the bakery was recognised.
"The Devon House Bakery is not a Mother's restaurant. It is a completely different business model," he said. "In addition to the name, the menu selection is quite different."