Tree of Tuba bakery and deli opens on Skinnergate Darlington

Hannah Thomson, 21, from Richmond and a former student at Queen Elizabeth College, has opened Tree of Tuba on Skinnergate today (November 3) after almost a year in the making.

Hannah spoke to The Northern Echo ahead of the opening and explained how the bakery came to be.

Hannah Thomson serving customers in her new bakery, Tree of Tuba (Image: Stuart Boulton)

She said: “I went to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington, and after I did my A-Levels, I decided to do an art foundation course.

“I got into University of the Arts London, and I took an illustration media course, but I just felt it wasn’t right. So, I decided to finish that course and start something with baking. I have cooked at home since childhood, and I have always loved to cook and bake, but I did not know I would have this opportunity.

The menu at Tree of Tuba (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“I spoke with my father about it, and he said we’ll try it. It has been since last December, that is when I had the idea that I would start it. Then it has been building up the menu, thinking of the design, the name and everything else.”

The 21-year-old, who will be the sole worker in the bakery and deli, told the Echo where the name came from.

She said, “I am Muslim now, I wasn’t always Muslim, but the name is a tree in heaven in our faith, so I just wanted to do something that reflected that.

All products are baked fresh every morning (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“I also love the concept of things being natural and things growing. I wanted to make the baked goods very plant-based. The whole theme is very organic and natural, and kind for the body. That was my intention with the shop.”

The former Darlington college student said there will be a variety of hot and cold drinks available. However, due to the category the bakery and deli fall into, the only hot food that can be served is soup.

Some of the baked goods on offer at Tree of Tuba (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

All food is baked fresh and prepared every morning.

And Hannah said it has always been a “dream” to open her own place.

She said: “I have always had this as a dream; I have always wanted to do something like this. I did put it off for a while because I just thought I couldn’t do it. I thought I would be anxious, and with the stress of it, I would not be able to cope with running something by myself.

“But I think because I have had so much loving support from family and friends, and this is a way I can create, especially because I love art, this is another way I can use art, but with food. This is something I have wanted to do for a really long time, and everything has sort of fallen into place.”

Some of the baked goods on offer at Tree of Tuba (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Hannah opened at 10.30am this morning and said she was “so excited”.

“I am honestly so excited, and I have been quite emotional, but I think I am happy that it has taken the time it has to open, even though it has been long, because I feel like it is perfect now. Everything is ready, so I am so excited, and I hope people love it,” she said.

Hannah has offered advice to young people thinking of starting their own business.

She said: “You’re never too young to do what you want. If you have a goal such as this, even if it seems scary, when you get older, you don’t want to regret not doing something. You will only fail if you don’t try to achieve what you want to do. My advice would be to give it a go.”

The bakery and deli is located on Skinnergate and is open Monday – Saturday, 10.30am to 2.30pm.