'Completely out of our control': Popular Greater Manchester bakery announces closure, but tells customers 'fear not'

An independent Manchester bakery has confirmed its closure less than a year after opening its doors. Owners of the city centre spot confirmed the news with followers on social media last night.

Factory Bake opened on King Street West in Manchester in late October, and was known for serving up everything from cookies and brownies to muffins and sausage rolls. But last night, the team behind the bakery said ‘a lot of road blocks’ had led them to shutter their site.

The concept is an offshoot of Factory Coffee, a kiosk which sits just across the street inside luxury tailors Dooley & Rostron. Owners have said it will remain open and continue to serve pastries and cakes made by the Factory Bake team while they look for a permanent site.

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Sharing the news last night, Factory Bake wrote: “With a heavy heart we announce the closing of our extension site factory bake, a lot of road blocks have led us to this decision none of them being due to the utter popularity, customers and the fact we’ve been blessed enough to sell out most every day. No, the reasons unfortunately have been completely and utterly out of our control.

“In saying this our hope and dream is to open up a location that can be more permanent for us and with that we’ve decided to do a Kickstarter to raise the necessary funds and it would mean the world to us if you are able to help us on this scary yet exciting endeavour, we’ll be announcing the launch of this very soon!

“Until then fear not we are baking off site and all the yummy baked treats you love so much will be available at @factorycoffeemcr.

“Thank you again for all your amazing love and support. It means more than you’ll ever know.”

The post attracted a number of comments, many from followers sharing their disappointment at the news and hoping the bakery will find a new site to operate from. One simply wrote: “Omg heartbroken, sending love”

Another added: “So gutted to read this! Loved it so much. Hope you can get something else sorted, best of luck.”

And a third said: “Honestly some of the most delicious things I have ever eaten…I will be at Factory Coffee next week then. Fingers crossed for a quick new location!!”

Dooley & Rostron relocated to Trinity Square on King Street in 2021, opening up a coffee hatch to mark the move. The coffee concept soon took off, leading to collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry and even bagging the team a nomination at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards.

In October, they expanded the offer with the opening of Factory Bake, just across the road, which is known for its freshly made bakes, made using ingredients from their allotment north of Manchester. Steering the bakery was Sofia Dooley, whose husband Adam runs the tailors, along with star baker Kendra Groves.

Australian-born Kendra, or ‘WildChild Cakes’ as she is known on social media, was tasked with bringing her bold and creative approach to their new baking concept. Kendra, who has two hundred and ninety thousand on TikTok, started out in cake design before building up her baking skills, and she uses her social media platforms to share baking tips, as well as entertaining followers with her day-to-day antics as a baker at Factory Bake.

Some of the comments on the post also addressed her directly, praising her bakes and wishing her good luck. They wrote: “So sorry to hear this Kenda. Your bakes were fantastic and I loved your savoury muffins.

“Hopefully you won’t move too far away from Spinningfields. That’s such a shame. Good luck.”

Another wrote: “You’ve become our regular Saturday afternoon treat spot. We’ll be looking out for what comes next.”

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about the closure of Factory Bake and plans to find a permanent spot, Adam Dooley said: “As that building is listed for redevelopment we are looking for a more permanent home with some indoor seating and a bigger kitchen

“Hopefully our Kickstarter campaign will help us find a new home to continue serving Manchester with home grown and home cooked goodies.”