A former primary school teacher has opened a new family-run bakery in Altrincham, taking over the old Warrens Bakery space.
Building on the success of his lockdown bread delivery business initially launched from a home-based micro bakery, ex-teacher Matt Townley and his partner Suze, herself a former solicitor, have just made the full-time move into hospitality.
Called MOST, the new bakery is very much a family affair – with their eight-year-old daughter even heading up the gingerbread section (when she’s not in school, that is).
It opened this weekend in the heart of the Trafford market town, celebrating by giving away 100 free brownies, free gingerbreads for the kids and £1 cupcakes to locals.
At MOST, customers can get their hands on eight different types of slow-fermented bread, classic and savoury croissants, pain au chocolat, cruffins, a selection of cakes, tarts, cookies, choux pastries and brownies.
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MOST Bakery in Altrincham / Credit: The Manc Group
And that’s not all.
Alongside the sweet treats will be brews from Kickback Coffee, wines from Reserve Wines, as well as deli items like cheese, butter, smoked salmon and kimchi, all sourced from local suppliers.
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Playing into the family angle, they’ll also be hosting breadmaking classes for children and adults to take together over the coming months.
Classes will launch with ‘Bread & Beer’, teaching guests to make bread using spent grains from a nearby brewery.
MOST Bakery in Altrincham / Credit: The Manc Group
MOST Bakery in Altrincham / Credit: The Manc Group
Speaking on the new opening, Matt Townley said: “There’s often a local bakery at the heart of every town and we want to create a warm and friendly community hub for the people of Altrincham, while serving amazing freshly baked bread, pastries and other treats.”
MOST is open Tues – Fri 8am – 4pm, Sat 9am – 5pm, and can be found at 3-5 Cross Street, Altrincham.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
News
Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Georgina Pellant -
24th June 2022 
