ARGUABLY Manchester’s two finest bakeries are forging forwards to a future in the burgeoning Ancoats food scene. Pollen have announced that this is their last week baking in their Sheffield Street arch before their move to Cotton Field Wharf, while Trove have taken one step further than their original plan to open a bakery in nearby Sawmill Court – by autumn they are also launching a 'laid-back evening space and neighbourhood eaterie’ alongside, called Erst.
In all this Trove are retaining their tiny Levenshulme base, but for Pollen Bakery it is a clean break with the space behind Piccadilly Station where co-owners Hannah Calvert and Chris Kelly opened in September 2016 to rapturous acclaim for its sourdough and viennoiserie’ offering. Their cruffins have had punters queuing around the block.
Their expansion is a major coup for developers Manchester Life whose careful investment in Cotton Field Wharf alongside New Islington Marina has seen well over half of their 300 properties already let.
Pollen told social media: “We’re ready for the next chapter now and we can’t wait to finally open the doors and show you all what we’ve been working on for so long. The new site isn’t quite ready yet but our team is working relentlessly to get the new Bakery completed . So come & say a fond farewell to our little archway this week.”
They say their new home will provide additional baking capacity and a space where the community can gather, meet, work, relax and break bread together. They have hinted it might be operational by Saturday, May 26.
That’s pretty much the template for Trove. The Levenshulme cafe-bakery (above) won Best Coffee Shop in the 2017 Manchester Food and Drink Awards. So it’s a natural step to further extend into a neighbourhood eaterie after opening in Ancoats.
They say Erst will be a calm and contemporary space 'to socialise, drink some wine, have a beer on tap, and eat simple and seasonal UK-sourced food. Guaranteed –Trove’s signature house-made sourdough, pickles and ferments. Wine will be of a natural/organic persuasion, beers will be craft (both local and global), and cocktails will be cocktails.
Ancoats is now on the brink of great things foodwise with Sugo, El Gato Negro and Hip Hop Chip Shop all lined up to join pioneering stars Rudy’s Pizza, Elnecot and Ancoats Coffee Co.