Manchester bakery Pollen to open new canal-side pastry kitchen and café

Manchester’s Pollen Bakery, which has a loyal following that’s willing to queue round the block for hours, are set to open a new site.

Expanding on their New Islington Marina offer, the independent sourdough and viennoiserie bakery is relocating their pastry team to a new pastry kitchen and café in the city’s Kampus garden neighbourhood. The bakery will be taking over a 2,600 square foot unit on the ground floor of Kampus, where customers will be able to see the patisserie masters at work within an open kitchen – and an expanded brunch menu.

The new location, which will look out over the Kampus garden, will feature a café with indoor and outdoor seating and room for workshops and supper clubs.

It’s the latest in a string of announcements of independent businesses signing up at the Kampus community developed by CAPITAL&CENTRIC and HBD and will sit alongside General Stores and Nell’s pizzeria.

A homegrown Manchester success story, Pollen Bakery began life in a railway arch underneath Manchester Piccadilly in 2016, where punters would queue round the block for their legendary cruffins (part croissant, part muffin) and sourdough bread. Founded by Hannah Calvert and Chris Kelly, it was born from the couple’s love of quality products and incredible flavours sampled on their travels around the world.

“We’d been looking for a place in the city to grow for a while, and Kampus really appealed to us,” said Hannah Calvert at Pollen.

“The location right next to the canal is perfect, and it’s rare to find somewhere with such a strong sense of community and independent spirit, where we’ll be side by side with other like-minded businesses. So alongside all the usual grab and go Pollen favourites, we’re going to be expanding the brunch menu, with lots of local seasonal produce and some exciting new creations. The support we’ve received from the Manchester community over the years has been incredible, so it’s great to start the next chapter with a new cafe, even more cakes and pastries in a pretty incredible setting.”

The brand, which champions local makers and producers, plans to fill the site with feature elements that will nod to collaborations with friends such as iconic Hayley McCrirrick artwork on the walls and handmade serve ware by Frida Cooper. In addition, the retail store will sell Pollen totes with artwork designed by Caroline Dowsett alongside staples such as the infamous croissant butter and enamel croissant pins.

Fit-out of the store is set to begin next month, with the opening planned in early 2022. Crafted by Manchester-based design studio NoChintz, the interior will feature soft organic textures and colours, creating a calm and understated home in homage to the natural ingredients from the menu.

Kampus is a vibrant new neighbourhood built around a garden developed by CAPITAL&CENTRIC and HBD. Its collection of old and new buildings offers a melting pot of architectural styles. It builds on a rich cultural heritage, using historic buildings that lay derelict for years, right next to the famous Canal Street in Manchester’s Gay Village and just minutes from Piccadilly Station.