The husband and wife team behind newly opened La Roche in Tunbridge Wells has told British Baker they will launch a patisserie school in France.

The boutique bakery and patisserie located on London Road, which was opened four months ago by former Baking Industry Awards (BIA) winners Chris and Harpal Pollard, will offer customers the opportunity to learn patisserie skills at their chateau located in the Loire Valley in France.

Chris told British Baker: "The idea is to make the chateau into a fun holiday destination where people can come and do some short courses in patisserie in a nice enivonrment for a week or so. The bakery in Tunbridge Wells could become a platform and the customer can see the product first-hand. They can then learn how to make them over in France - what nicer environment to be in?"

La Roche produces a range of products on-site, including Danish pastries, filled ciabatta rolls, patisserie lines, cupcakes, and up to 20 types of artisanal breads.

Chris, whose uncle and father were both master bakers, has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and won British Baker’s BIA Baker of the Year title in 2002, while patissier Harpal trained at the Ecole Lenôtre in Paris, as well as Le Cordon Bleu culinary institute. The couple previously ran London bakery Le Papillon Patisserie.

La Roche currently employs four members of staff and has taken on a few students for work experience to learn both bakery and patisserie skills. Products are made in a bakery located in the basement, as well as patisserie laboratory on the second floor.

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