The French Oven

About The French Oven

The French Oven is an artisan bakery at unit 27 in the Arcade of the Grainger Market, run by Emma-Claude and her team. The range deliberately straddles two traditions: French baking in the croissants, patisserie and sourdough, and North East baking in the stotties and griddle scones that regulars queue for. Spelt loaves, muffins, sausage rolls, filled paninis and a much-requested Russian cake fill out the counter, and stock turns over through the day rather than sitting under lights. It functions as a bakery to take away from and as a stop for lunch or an afternoon cup of something, which is typical of how the market's food traders now work.

The bakery has picked up awards over the years and has built up decades of baking experience between its staff, and it is one of the units most often named when people describe the Grainger Market's revival as a food destination. Its position in the Arcade, the glass-roofed section of the market, means it sits alongside the cheese counter and other long-standing food stalls, so a shopping trip can reasonably be done in one circuit. Hours are Monday to Saturday, eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, and popular lines can sell out well before closing, particularly on Saturdays.

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