Scotland’s first Pastelaria is set to open in Glasgow's west end today.
The bakery specialising in Portuguese custard tarts, Pastel de Nata, is based on Byres Road.
Emma Airley and Sebastian Bacewicz will launch Pastéis Lisboa, making up to 1,200 tarts every day, with the baking process on display for customers to watch.
The couple received a £40,000 loan from Transmit Start-Ups through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme to turn their business idea into reality.
The couple have also developed a vegan version in conjunction with a fifth generation Portuguese patisserie chef, and will be introducing seasonal flavour variations to the menu.
The shop will also include an Iberian-themed deli, where shoppers can buy cured meats, cheeses, seafood and other delicacies from Portugal and Spain, along with sodas and fresh juices, small batch coffees, fresh bread from Freedom Bakery and sandwiches made from Scottish ingredients.
Free samples of Pastéis de Nata will be handed out to West End locals over the next few days as Pastéis Lisboa prepares to open, with the owners promising they will be better than any Portuguese tarts they have tried in the UK before.
Airley said: “What we’re launching is a unique concept to Scotland – in fact, there is nothing like it beyond London.
“While many people will have tried a Pastel de Nata before, they most likely won’t have had a fresh one made with fresh, high-quality ingredients to an authentic, traditional recipe.”
In 2015, the couple also launched Ciora Scotland, an e-commerce supplier of handmade sheepskin and wool products, ranging from slippers and sock, to rugs, bedding and other homewares.
The couple said that their intention is to look at multiple locations once the first bakery is up and running, with plans to open in Edinburgh next year. They also intend to offer catering services for offices, private events and wholesale supply.
Pastéis Lisboa is one of more than 800 businesses in Glasgow to have received more than £7m in funding from the Start Up Loans programme since the scheme launched in 2012.
Barry McCulloch, senior manager for Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “The Start Up Loans initiative was designed to enable entrepreneurs like Emma and Sebastian to access funding through alternative avenues, helping local businesses to thrive. Pastéis Lisboa is a great example of how an entrepreneurial couple’s great idea for something unique in their local area can become a reality with the right support.”
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