Food for everyone at Kloe’s bakery

I spoke to business owner Kloe Harbour about her eat in/take away bakery. She said, "We've just had our one-year anniversary party, so yes, we've managed our first year. There have been a lot of hurdles, but we got there." While we chatted Kloe kindly made a smooth, oat milk latte and cut a slice of Biscoff Cookie Pie for me.

She said, "The business started with cakes. But when I opened here, I realised I needed lunch options, some savouries, and coffees. So I had to slowly introduce those. We've got a few different baguette choices, and toasted paninis. So you get your cheesy, gooey kick there."

"So it's not just for vegans. Food is food. And people eat vegan food all the time and don't know they're eating it. As long as you like chocolate and sugar and you'll be fine."

"My dad wouldn't have oat milk when he was at my house. But obviously now he has no choice when he comes here. And he goes, "Actually, that is really good. When you make it all fancy like that, that's the best coffee I've ever had." And I'm like, that's the oat milk. It's nothing to do with fancy equipment. He agrees now. He loves all my food."

I asked Kloe how she became a vegan. "So I went vegan in 2020, and shop bought cakes just didn't quite scratch the itch. So, I started baking at home, and then I sort of fell into selling them locally, and then doing market stalls, and it sort of grew from there. It's been about six years now, and veggie for a couple of years before that, and I've never looked back." "I'm not entirely sure where the vegan thing came from. I think it was the more into the scene you become. So, being veggie, obviously things aren't the algorithm algorithms, and before you know it, they're like, actually, it's not just the meat trade that's really cruel. Actually, it's the dairy industry, it's the egg industry. And so I guess we sort of gave it a try, and found it's actually a lot easier than I thought it would be." "I've always loved baking, I've never been very good at it. But then I thought, I'll give it a bash, maybe I'm no good at baking with dairy and eggs." "I had my daughter at the end of 2019. We didn't put her on a vegan diet straight away, but now she's thriving and doing really well. She's not missing out on any nutrients. Whether you eat meat, you're a vegetarian, or you're a vegan, I think you can either eat well or not, regardless of whether you include meat in your diet." "Last night, for example, my daughter and I had butternut squash macaroni and vegan cheese, with smoked paprika and garlic, like a macaroni cheese dish—like a pasta bake. Honestly, it's so good, now it's our favourite dinner. It's really opened our eyes to other flavours and other foods. I think I feel more healthy than I've ever been, more energised. I feel good, because I'm really thinking about what I'm eating."

"I had a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of tears, thinking, what am I doing? I'm a single mum, so times are tough. But I thought, oh, if I never try, I'll really kick myself. Because I've always, my parents used to call me a female Dellboy. I've always had my finger in a pie somewhere, trying to make something stick and trying to make a business somewhere. And this is probably my biggest achievement so far."

I mentioned that just being a single parent must be super tough? let alone opening a new business as well?

"Yes. Brave or stupid, I'm not sure. So far, I'm feeling pretty brave. I thought to myself, there's nothing for people who just do not want the cross-contamination risk." which prompted her to open the bakery.

Harbours Vegan Bakery has a real community spirit, and Kloe said, "So I've had breastfeeding mothers whose children are dairy intolerant. People with egg allergies. The amount of kids that come in with their mum, and I say you can have whatever you want. And they're like, "What?" They're not used to going into a bakery or a cafe and being able to have whatever they want."

Kloe offers soft baguettes with a choice of fillings at £ 5.50, and toasted panini with filling for £ 5.80 (with the gluten free option at 60p extra). The cakes are too numerous to mention, but all lovingly made and irresistible to the eye.

"And then a few months ago, I thought it would be quite a nice idea to add a pantry element. So unlike going into large superstores, where you've got to look on the back of the packet of everything and see if they've stuck any honey or milk or eggs in anything, I've done all that bit for them. Obviously, it's a convenient thing. Just grab that element that you need for dinner. So yeah, little by little, new ideas come on how we can develop it and grow. But yeah, pretty much a one-woman band."

At Harbours Vegan Bakery there's a real sense of an inclusive community, where everyone is warmly welcomed. Knowing they have a safe space to enjoy delicious, handmade, kind food, that's for everyone.

I was really impressed with the Biscoff Cookie Pie: the generous slice had layers of delicious Biscoff spread and chocolate ganache in a chocolate chip cookie crust. So I decided to buy a slice to take home to my children, they loved it, and I've never been so popular!

You can find Harbours Vegan Bakery at 153 South Street, Lancing, near the beach. It's open 9am -2pm Tuesday to Saturday, open 8am on Wednesdays and closes later on Fridays at 4pm

I strongly recommend a visit, a latte, and a slice of Biscoff Cookie Pie!