UP CLOSE: Nick Marsh, owner of Denela's Bakery in Shepton Mallet

Shepton Mallet Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Shepton Mallet'.

We caught up with Nick Marsh, the owner of Denela's Bakery in Shepton Mallet. In this feature, he talks about how his family came to run Denela's and how he likes to support events in the town.

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Have you always lived in the Shepton Mallet area and, if not, what were the key considerations about moving here?

I am Shepton Mallet born and raised, never considered living anywhere else. Shepton has everything I need right now in my life.

Tell us a bit about your personal business background Nick and how you ended up running Denela's?

Father and Mother many years ago when I was a child had a wool shop in the town. The first shop father rented was from a gentlemen called Archie Collins, it is now what you would know as Shepton Mallet kebab house.

Father always worked for Clarks the shoe people and Mother was into her knitting. After a few years renting a shop he bought his first shop, which is now Charles Barnard Estate Agents.

When Dad bought the shop it was Curtis bakery, not that we had any background in baking at that time. Every Curtis bakery shop had its own stain glass window which Dad had a portion of moved to our premises now and is by our bread slicer.

As time went by we moved and bought the premises we are at now. Father had a hair brain idea to start selling bakery products along side the wool shop.

At this point in my life I was coming up to leaving school with no real prospects of knowing what I wanted to do, but very aware Father would not stand for me doing nothing. I started working full time from the moment I left school.

On the day my father passed away I took on the business by myself and here we are today 18 years later working along side my partner Mary, my daughter Steph and my son Ben with a bakery business with two shops, a number of wholesale outlets and lots of outside catering.

What do you like about Shepton Mallet? How are you involved in the local community?

I think being in a local business in our town in itself is hopefully supporting the local community and trying to make it a better place. As a business person in the town I am heavily involved in anything that goes on in the town including helping out with:

- Shepton Carnival

- Shepton fireworks

- Shepton Mallet Football Club

- Mid Somerset Show

- Collett Park Day

I am trying my best to give back to the community.

The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on many businesses and organisations - what are your plans?

We have been very lucky that our new hatch in place on our front door has been very successful in both shops and has ensured the safety of our staff and customers as well as giving us the opportunity to stay trading through everything.

We also started our own hog roast takeaway evening at our two shops on various evenings which has been a great success. Our plans for the future is to keep doing what we do.

One thing Covid has taught us is that a business through something as massive as Covid needs to run smoother, wiser and not become such busy fools.

What other businesses do you like and use in Shepton Mallet?

I have a saying that I try to play with my play mates. If I use other local businesses then I hope they would support us in return. Keep it local!

The lockdown has been very difficult for many people - how do you think that Shepton Mallet as a town has coped?

I think Shepton Mallet has had it's problems over the past year but much the same as any other market town or city as we've all read and seen on TV and in the papers.

I think it divided many people's opinions and certainly as a business owner it was one time when I felt very alone. When it's needed a town will pull together survive and come out the other side.

If there was one thing in the town you would change, what would it be?

There isn't anything really, it is what you make it, I try to keep my head down and keep pushing forward and not to worry about what I can't control.

Shepton Mallet and the area around it is beautiful - what is your favourite place and why?

I am very lucky to own a small field near Croscombe, which I have planning permission for four shepherd's huts to let out for glamping and a agricultural barn which we are trying to get change of use for occasional events.

For me this place is my retreat I can go down there with a cup of tea cut the grass and no one needs to bother me.

If you could choose an actor to play you in a movie about your life, who would it be and why?

My daughter says Ray Winston! I think James Corden would be a better suit.

You can visit the Denela's Bakery Facebook page here.