Sheffield bakery announces Masham branchFast-growing posh bakery chain to open in HarrogateNew bakery to open in Harrogate town centre next weekHarrogate’s last remaining Secret Bakery put up for saleHistoric Harrogate bakery to close after 119 yearsNew bakery opens in HarrogateThomas the Baker set to open new store in Boroughbridge

Thomas the Baker plans to open a store on Boroughbridge High Street, where the Cooplands bakery used to be.

Cooplands closed its Boroughbridge store last April following “an in-depth review of the business”, having opened it nearly three years ago in February 2021. The Scarborough-based chain’s closest store is now on Beulah Street, Harrogate.

Beulah Street Cooplands in Harrogate.

Thomas the Baker has submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council for a replacement shopfront including new non-illuminated fascia and projecting sign.

People can comment on the application concerning the new store at 33 High Street until this Sunday, January 7. The store would add to the current number of bakeries in the market tow, which include Gilchrist’s and Havenhands.

The family-owned bakery chain headquartered in Helmsley was established in 1981. The company has 30 shops across Yorkshire and the North-East, including: Ripon, Knaresborough, Thirsk, Acomb, Easingwold, Haxby, Kirbymoorside, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Selby and four in York.

Read more:

New cafe to open in Knaresborough on Friday

The Little Way Cafe is to reopen in Knaresborough this week.

The family-run cafe and bakery announced on August 10 it was closing its site on Camwal Road in Starbeck after 11 months.

It is due to reopen in the unit formerly occupied by Moat Buttery cafe in Knaresborough on Friday.

In a Facebook post, the cafe said it was a “very difficult decision” to cease trading in Starbeck but “it was the only choice we could make in order to provide the best service and environment we could for our customers”.

Owner Yasmine Alsamarai told the Stray Ferret the move was necessary because the new site had more space.

Read more:

Ms Alsamarai said she was eager to stay as local to her original cafe as possible and the new “prime” Knaresborough location in Castle Yard came as a welcome opportunity.

She added she was sad to leave the “good community in Starbeck” but was looking forward to the Knaresborough move.

Originally from Leeds, Ms Alsamarai said she had a “love for hospitality” and opening a cafe had always been her dream. The homemade bakes are made by her sister, Saleimah Wright.

Ms Wright said:

“We’re so excited for the opening of the Knaresborough cafe and look forward to sharing what we do with the community!”

Ms Alsamarai emphasised the importance of community and love at Little Way Cafe.

She explained the meaning of the cafe’s name:

“Do small things with great love.”

Secret Bakery set to open new shop in Harrogate station

An established bakery is set to open a third outlet in the entrance to Harrogate railway station.

The Secret Bakery, which has been based on Knaresborough Road since before the covid pandemic, is hoping to open the doors of its new shop next Friday, August 25.

Owners Jane and James Spencer said they hope it will prove popular with office staff, commuters and visitors to town – and they are looking forward to the Station Gateway project.

James told the Stray Ferret:

“Because of the changes the council is planning, we’re hoping to take the front of the shop out and put concertina doors in.

“Then we could have it open and some pavement cafe seating.”

The couple took over The Secret Bakery in October 2020, after it was originally founded in a domestic kitchen in the Saints area of Harrogate.

Despite the ongoing covid restrictions, James said it was a busy time, as many customers liked to buy from a small business and avoid the supermarkets.

The new outlet on Station Parade will offer the same range of sandwiches, cakes and drinks for which the Secret Bakery is known.

A second baker has already been recruited to increase capacity behind the scenes, and staff from elsewhere in the business will be moving to work in the central Harrogate shop.

The secret bakery on Knaresborough Road

The bakery on Knaresborough Road will remain open, as will a second unit in Knaresborough‘s Market Place, which opened last October.

James said the Knaresborough shop had a strong start last autumn but has been quieter this year, perhaps down to lower than expected levels of tourism across the town.

However, he is hopeful that being in the centre of Harrogate, close to other businesses and transport links, will prove successful.

The unit was previously occupied by a cafe, but closed around eight months ago. James said the owner of the neighbouring shoe repair and key cutting shop had already been in touch to welcome the new business.

Its opening hours will be long than the other two Secret Bakery shops, with James and Jane hoping to catch commuters from 7am until 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

James added:

“I saw this place originally and didn’t think much of it, but then the cogs started turning. It means we’re in town rather than the outskirts.

“It’s in the process of being refurbished. We weren’t planning on doing much, but then we thought, ‘let’s do it properly before we open’.

“They’re due to finish soon, then we need to get the fridges and things in, and we’re hoping to be open next Friday.”

Read more:

 

Cooplands closes Boroughbridge bakery

Cooplands has closed its bakery in Boroughbridge after little more than two years.

The company, which is the second largest bakery chain in the district, opened a shop on the town’s High Street in February 2021.

But a sign appeared in the window recently saying the shop had now closed permanently and the nearest branch was on Beulah Street in Harrogate.

Cooplands in Harrogate

The Harrogate shop

The Stray Ferret asked Cooplands why it had closed its Boroughbridge branch and how many staff were affected.

A spokesperson said:

“Following an in-depth review of the business, we have proposed to make some changes to both our retail and bakery operations, to help better position the business for the long-term and sustainable growth.

“This has been done to ensure that our store estate and broader business are fully aligned with our ‘modern bakery food-to-go retailer’ strategy.

“As a result, we have entered into a consultation process with a number of colleagues. We appreciate that this may be unsettling for colleagues and our priority is to support them fully throughout this process.”

The spokesperson declined to comment beyond the statement.

Cooplands started as a single shop in Scarborough in 1885 and now has more than 160 shops in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East.

It was bought in 2021 by the EG Group.

Read more: