Bread Ahead is one of London’s most well-known bakeries, famous for its iconic doughnuts and artisan bread. Beyond the bakery counters, Bread Ahead also runs a highly regarded baking school, offering a wide range of professional baking classes that are consistently popular and often sell out quickly.
After hearing so many positive reviews, I finally got the chance to attend their Complete Sourdough Workshop, a full-day hands-on baking class in London. Here’s my honest review and whether it’s worth the money.
About Bread Ahead Baking School
Bread Ahead currently has baking school locations at Borough Market, Chelsea, and Wembley. The workshop I attended took place at their Wembley Baking School, just a few minutes’ walk from Wembley Park Station (towards the stadium). The location is easy to reach by public transport and very convenient.
The class I joined was the Complete Sourdough Workshop, a full-day session running from 10:00am to 4:30pm.
Price & Booking
The standard price for the Complete Sourdough class is £220 per person. Luckily, my friend spotted a Black Friday 2-for-1 voucher offer, so in the end we paid around £100 each, which felt like an absolute bargain. Bread Ahead classes are known to sell out quickly, but we managed to book a late January slot, which worked perfectly.
What You’ll Learn in the Complete Sourdough Workshop
This full-day workshop is designed to give you a solid understanding of sourdough bread making, including how to make starter in home baking.
During the class, you will:
- Learn the fundamentals of sourdough fermentation
- Create your own sourdough starter to take home
- Use Bread Ahead’s starter to bake a range of breads, including:
- Classic sourdough
- Rye loaf
- Brown levain
- Sourdough Baguette
- Sourdough Pizza
It’s very hands-on and beginner-friendly, even if you’ve never baked bread before.
Class Structure & Experience
Before the class, we received a detailed email with instructions and notes, including what to expect on the day. One pleasant surprise was that breakfast, lunch, and a snack are all provided, so there’s no need to eat beforehand or bring food.
The class starts strictly at 10am, and late entry isn’t allowed, so I’d highly recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early.
When we entered the baking room, everything was already prepared: a large communal table, ingredients, and equipment. There were 12 people in the class, which felt like a great size — not overcrowded, and easy to get individual attention.
Our instructor, Andy, was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive throughout the day.
Food Provided During the Class
- Refreshments: Water, coffee, and tea available throughout the day.
- Breakfast: Freshly baked croissants (help yourself).
- Lunch: Sourdough pizza that we made ourselves, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, served with salad and additional garlic focaccia (which was so good!).
- Afternoon treat: Bread Ahead’s signature jam doughnut.
Making sourdough pizza for lunch was a highlight — fun, relaxed, and very thoughtful. The baking room does get warm, so stepping outside for fresh air during the lunch break is a good idea.
Hands-On Baking & Teaching Quality
We mixed dough by hand, learned proper kneading techniques, and understood fermentation timing. Later, Andy showed us:
- How to score sourdough properly with a sharp blade
- Different baking methods, including using cast iron pots and steam for a crispy crust
Tony paid close attention to everyone’s progress and offered help whenever needed, which made the learning experience feel very supportive.
In the final part of the workshop, we were given printed recipes for all the breads we made. Andy also explained in detail about how to make and maintain a sourdough starter and how to feed and care for it at home. The recipes are also emailed after the class, so there’s no need to worry if you miss anything during the session.
What You Take Home
By the end of the day, we took home:
- Multiple sourdough loaves (4 breads)
- A box of 4 Bread Ahead doughnuts (I’m not sure whether this is always included or was just a bonus for our class)
- Our own sourdough starter
Final Thoughts: Is Bread Ahead Sourdough Workshop Worth It?
Absolutely yes. This workshop is:
- Very beginner-friendly
- Well-structured and informative
- Generous with food and take-home items
Considering that breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, multiple sourdough loaves, doughnuts, and professional teaching are all included, the class offers great value — especially if you can book during a promotion.
Would I take another Bread Ahead class?
Definitely. I’d happily join another workshop, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for future offers. If you’re interested in learning sourdough baking in London, this Bread Ahead workshop is highly recommended.
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