Soft, savoury and unmistakably Staffordshire, traditional Staffordshire oatcakes have been a local favourite for generations. Somewhere between a pancake and a crêpe, but with a taste entirely their own, oatcakes are one of those foods that instantly remind many people of home.
At Povey’s, we’re proud to play our part in keeping this Staffordshire tradition going. From our beginnings in Biddulph to the oatcakes we produce today, the aim has always been simple: make a proper oatcake that people look forward to eating.
What Are Traditional Staffordshire Oatcakes?
A Staffordshire oatcake is a thin, savoury, oat-based pancake that is traditionally associated with North Staffordshire and the surrounding area.
Unlike the hard, biscuit-like oatcakes found in Scotland, traditional Staffordshire oatcakes are soft and flexible. This makes them perfect for rolling or folding around all sorts of fillings.
Traditionally, they combine ingredients including oatmeal, flour, yeast, salt, bicarbonate of soda and water. However, ask any local oatcake baker for their exact recipe, and you probably won’t get very far. Recipes are closely guarded, and the small differences between them help give each Staffordshire oatcake bakery its own distinctive taste.
Povey’s is no different. Our recipe stays firmly under wraps.
A Staffordshire Tradition with a Long History
The exact origins of the Staffordshire oatcake are difficult to pin down, and people have passed down different stories over the years.
While oatcakes are strongly associated with Stoke-on-Trent and the Potteries, the Povey family has long believed their story may stretch further into the Staffordshire Moorlands. In isolated rural communities, families needed filling food that they could make from simple ingredients kept in the cupboard.
Our own connection to this history runs deep. Povey’s founder, Steve Povey, was once given an old recipe from Ecton in the Manifold Valley that used milk and oats. That link between old Staffordshire recipes and the oatcakes enjoyed today is part of what makes this humble local food so interesting.
Whatever their exact beginnings, oatcakes went on to become firmly woven into Staffordshire life.
The Povey’s Oatcakes Story
Povey’s story began in 1994, when Steve Povey opened the original shop in Biddulph. What started as a local oatcake business grew into a familiar Staffordshire name.
Today, the family business continues under Steve’s son, Alex Povey. While Povey’s has grown considerably since those early days, our connection to Staffordshire and its oatcake tradition remains at the heart of what we do.
Alongside our original Biddulph shop, our Staffordshire production bakery allows us to produce oatcakes for customers and stockists across a much wider area.
The way we work may have developed over the years, but the important bit hasn’t changed: making traditional Staffordshire oatcakes that taste as they should.
How Do You Eat a Staffordshire Oatcake?
There isn’t really a wrong answer, although plenty of Staffordshire locals might disagree with that statement.
One of the joys of an oatcake is just how versatile it can be. Warm one up, add your favourite filling, then roll it, fold it or simply get stuck in.
Cheese and bacon remain one of the classics, while sausage and egg makes a cracking breakfast. Cheese and mushrooms are another firm favourite, and those with a bigger appetite can pile in bacon, sausage, egg, beans and cheese for a proper Staffordshire feast.
However, oatcakes don’t have to stay savoury. They also work surprisingly well with sweet fillings, from strawberries and banana to peanut butter, honey or jam.
Breakfast might be their traditional home, but there’s no reason to stop there.
More Than Just an Oatcake
For people who grew up in Staffordshire, oatcakes often come with memories attached.
They might remind you of a Saturday morning breakfast, calling into the local oatcake shop, eating them around the kitchen table or introducing someone from outside Staffordshire to their first cheese and bacon oatcake.
That’s why traditional Staffordshire oatcakes are about more than the ingredients. They’re part of the area’s food heritage and something generations of local families have continued to enjoy.
At Povey’s, keeping that tradition going means making sure people can still enjoy a proper oatcake, whether they live around the corner or much further away.
Where Can You Buy Povey’s Staffordshire Oatcakes?
If you’re local, you can visit Povey’s in Biddulph for a proper taste of Staffordshire. We also supply our oatcakes to shops and retailers, helping more people discover this local favourite.
For those who have moved away, you don’t have to wait until your next trip home. Povey’s oatcakes can also be ordered online, making it easy to get a taste of Staffordshire delivered to your door.
And if you fancy getting the frying pan out yourself, our Staffordshire Oatcake Mix gives you another way to enjoy the Povey’s taste at home.
Keeping the Staffordshire Oatcake Tradition Going
Staffordshire has changed a lot over the years, but our love of a good oatcake hasn’t.
From old family recipes and small local oatcake shops to modern production and online ordering, the Staffordshire oatcake has adapted without losing the things that make it special.
Povey’s is proud to be part of that story. Whether you like yours loaded with bacon and cheese, kept simple with a little butter, or filled with something completely different, there’s nowt quite like a proper Staffordshire oatcake.
