Sourdough September at Bread Ahead

Bread Ahead, the artisan bakery and baking school founded by Matthew Jones at Borough Market in 2013, is celebrating Sourdough September by putting the bread that has been part of its story from the very beginning centre stage, with a new line-up of sourdough workshops launching across its baking schools this September.

When Matthew Jones first opened his Bread Ahead stall at Borough Market, sourdough was one of the bakery's first offerings; still baking today is Bruce, Bread Ahead Borough's much-loved 13-year-old sourdough starter. Bruce was blessed in 2013 by Canon Bruce Saunders and has been carefully nurtured ever since, producing countless loaves and inspiring generations of baby Bruce starters through Bread Ahead's sourdough workshops and beyond.

Sourdough's appeal goes far beyond its distinctive flavour and texture. The long fermentation process is what gives sourdough its characteristic depth of flavour, chewy crumb and crisp crust, while naturally fermented bread can be easier for people to digest. It is also an incredibly practical loaf to have at home: slice it, freeze it and take out a slice whenever you need it, ready to go straight into the toaster for breakfast.

This September, Bread Ahead is expanding its sourdough offering with a programme of in-person workshops at Borough and Wembley. There's something for everyone, from a 90-minute introduction covering the science behind sourdough, how to create and care for a starter, practical skills and plenty of tastings, to an intensive three-day course for those wanting to take their sourdough skills further and an exploration of the sweeter side of sourdough.

For those who can't make it to a Bread Ahead Baking School workshop, the sourdough lessons continue online. Bread Ahead's video masterclasses offer expert guidance fromthe comfort of your own kitchen, whether you're getting to grips with your first starter, looking for clever ways to use up your discard or ready to explore flatbreads and sweet sourdough.

Teaching people how to bake has always been central to Bread Ahead's philosophy. The Bread Ahead Baking School now offers more than 40 workshops online and in person, helping everyone from complete beginners to experienced bakers learn the skills to bake at home:

"Teaching has always been as important to Bread Ahead as baking itself. Sourdough is a brilliant example of that because once you understand the principles, you can keep baking it for years and make it your own. That's what we saw during lockdown, when people all over the world joined us to learn about starters, fermentation and bread-making from their own kitchens. Sourdough has a wonderful way of bringing people together, and Sourdough September is our chance to keep that going and introduce even more people to the craft."

Matthew Jones, founder of Bread Ahead