A 'microbakery' set up in lockdown by a former primary school teacher and his family is all set to open up this weekend. MOST is taking over the unit vacated by Warrens Bakery, which failed to reopen after lockdown.
Behind the project is self-taught baker and former primary school teacher Matt Townley and his wife Suze, a former solicitor. They’ll be making and selling eight different types of slow fermented bread, along with a range of pastries and savouries.
Among the baked treats on offer will be homemade sweet and savoury croissants, pain au chocolat, cruffins, tarts and choux pastries. The couple’s eight-year-old daughter, meanwhile, will be getting involved too, heading up the vital gingerbread offering.
Drinks will come in the form of coffee from Macclesfield’s small batch roastery Kickback, and wine from Reserve Wines. It will also sell a selection of cheeses, butters, smoked salmon and kimchi, all from local suppliers.
"Before opening the bricks and mortar bakery, I was running baking classes and making small batch sourdough and other breads from my home-based microbakery, but the delivery side of things really took off during lockdown when flour and bread were both in scarce supply," Matt told the M.E.N. "We couldn’t meet demand from our home kitchen, so when the chance came up to take the premises in Altrincham, we just knew we had to take it.
"It is incredibly important to be doing this with my family. I’m the baker, but my wife Suze keeps me organised. Our eight year old daughter Olivia is very excited – we’ve put her in charge of gingerbread and she’s taking the role very seriously! Running a bakery can be long hours, but it’s great that we can do it together as a family."
nd I started baking as a way to relieve stress. I came across the opportunity to open a franchise which focused on running baking classes, and also involved making small batch bread at home which I delivered locally by bike. Running baking classes was a natural transition from being a teacher – I loved baking but also teaching and meeting a wide range of people, all passionate about baking or just wanting to have a fun day with friends."
For the opening weekend, the bakery will be giving away 100 of its brownies, and free gingerbreads for kids. There will also be £1 cupcakes on offer too. MOST is on Cross Street in Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter and will be open 8am to 4pm from Tuesday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
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