A PRETZEL bakery is gearing up for Oktoberfest around the country as the demand for authentic German savouries grows.

Pretzel and Spelt, by German born Angelica Searle, in Crompton Way, is busy with bulk orders of their popular pretzels for various Oktoberfest events in Devon, London, Lancashire and Bolton.

Oktoberfest usually runs from September into October, with traditional Bavarian music and people dress up for the event.

It was first started 200 years ago when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen in 1810.

Mrs Searle said: “We found in the pandemic people were not just ordering from Bolton, but from London and Cornwall, because there isn’t one like this in the north west that also ships everywhere.

“Most of them in London deliver local only and I can make them for cheaper and sell them cheaper, so that’s why people order from me.”

During the first half of Oktoberfest, the bakery was shipping pretzels over to Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, London and have shipped to Devon and Lancaster.

She added: "I started small just making German biscuits and took my recipes to artisan markets."

The 57-year-old, filmed Top of the Shop with the BBC in 2017, where bakers aimed to impress judges with their savouries.

After this, she said: “ I could see after that I was doing well as more people knew about me, so I thought it was the perfect time to start the business in 2018.

Originally from Augsburg, Mrs Searle lived and worked in Munich as an occupational therapist, and after meeting her husband in 1995, the pair moved to the UK together in 2006.

In Germany, people do not typically make pretzels, as it’s something you can easily buy because there are bakeries on every street, so there is no need.

Mrs Searle added: "You cannot get them like that here, although I know Lidl now import them, but you can’t get 500 from there. Nobody uses all the ingredients like that here, so I saw the gap in the market and wanted to bring authentic pretzels to Bolton."

The unique taste comes from caustic soda, which can burn skin and eyes, therefore it is not recommended to try it at home.

Pretzels are supposed to be eaten fresh on the day as Mrs Searle also confirms but you can heep them in a plastic box for consumption later. Take a look at their Instagram @pretzel&spelt