Cult favourite indie Factory Bake has announced they are shutting their extension site in the city centre, stating that the closure was simply out of their control.
Sat just a stone’s throw away from their main coffee kiosk and serving window attached to clothing and tailor shop, Dooley and Rostron, Factory Bake was up there with one of the most popular places to pick up a sweet treat or a pastry in central Manchester.
Located on King Street West, just across the road from Spinningfields and the likes of Crazy Pedro’s, the bakery window would regularly entice Mancs walking past to nip in for one of their baked goods and, as owner Kendra Groves puts it, would sell out almost every day.
Groves, who you may also know as ‘Wild Child Cakes‘, posted a lengthy statement explaining the decision on their socials while assuring that although this site might be closing, the brand itself remains and will be bouncing back.
Speaking on behalf of the wider Factory team, Aussie-born baker Groves wrote: “With a heavy heart we announce the closing of our extension site Factory Bake.
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“A lot of roadblocks 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 almost every day! No, the reasons, unfortunately [have] been completely and utterly out of our control.”
But before you mourn too hard, you can breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that Kendra and co. full intend to reopen elsewhere, going on to state that “our hope and dream is to open up a location that can be more permanent for us” and will be setting up a Kickstarter campaign to help them do so.
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The aim is for the crowdfunder to help “raise the necessary funds”, adding, “It would mean the world to us if you are able to help us on this scary yet exciting endeavour… your amazing love and support, it means more than you’ll ever know.”
Details surrounding how and where to support the campaign are yet to be revealed but this deliciousness is simply too good not to back.
Most importantly of all, you’ll still be able to get your hands on plenty of Factory Bake goodness in the interim as they assured: “Fear not we are baking off-site and all the yummy baked treats you love so much will be available at Factory Coffee.”
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There really is a lot of love for this independent and passionately run local business and we’re so glad to hear that this closure of their extension site is more of a see you later than a goodbye, as the demand isn’t going anywhere.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that they went somewhat viral after a reviewer gave them one star for essentially being too busy – a comment that they were quick to toast.
‘Hidden’ Manchester cocktail bar shuts down after only six months
Daisy Jackson
A cocktail bar in Manchester city centre that opened only last December has reportedly closed down, with its final service today.
Ego Death, a ‘hidden’ speakeasy-style bar in the Northern Quarter, told CLASS magazine that they were told by backers that they would have to close.
It opened under the steer of acclaimed bartender Cressida Lawlor, co-founded by Beau Myers, who also founded the original Almost Famous.
The bar is beneath newcomer smash burger joint Super Awesome Deluxe and accessed through an unmarked door within the takeaway.
Shortly after Super Awesome Deluxe opened, Almost Famous went through a high-profile closure of all of its restaurants this year, later bought out and reopened by D2.
And now just six months after launch, Ego Death looks set to be closing for good.
Cressida told CLASS: “The team here is wildly talented so the goal now is to get them into jobs so they can pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads.
“No one wants Ego Death to die and I think we’ve made enough of a stir in the six months that we’ve been open to find a new site and investment.
“Our last day is going to be Sunday, so anyone who can get here for one final party should come down.”
She later added on Instagram: “Truly gutting but there is always light in any form of darkness. Come see us this Sunday for the final service as we go through a true ego death.”
Ego Death came from the same team behind Socio Rehab (which if you remember it from 2004 was a bit of a local institution) and had a cocktail menu inspired by the speakeasy bars of New York City.
Behind the bar the stars were bourbon and champagne, plus cocktails inspired by the Big Apple – including one named after Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones.
Beau Myers, co-founder at Ego Death said at the time of its opening: “It’s been 20 years since we opened Socio Rehab so it seems pretty poignant to be opening another amazing cocktail bar. We changed the landscape of cocktail bar culture then and that’s something we’re trying to do again.
“We’ve partnered with Cressida Lawlor to make this dream happen. She’s a total firecracker and reminds me a lot of myself 20 years ago, she’s the future of cocktails and bartending and has that maverick spirit.
“Together we’ve created Ego Death, hidden in a basement behind an unmarked door at the back of a burger shop will be this cocktail haven. An underground escape throwing out the best classic cocktails, bourbon, and champagne from top level bartenders.”
This Manchester bar serves a bottomless cheese fondue with endless beer and wine
Georgina Pellant
There’s a bar in Manchester serving a bottomless cheese fondue with endless wine and beer, and it honestly sounds like the perfect treat.
While it might scream cosy winter night in, with a huge outdoor terrace, The Mews is also a firm favourite during the summer months.
Add in a board of melt-in-the-mouth charcuterie, springy pieces of garlic sourdough and a host of crunchy cheese biscuits, and you’ve got yourself the ideal afternoon if you ask us.
But there’s more. Alongside all that cheese and meat and bread, included in the price of The Mews’ bottomless fondue, cheese lovers can also enjoy 90 minutes of non-stop drinks.
Bottomless cheese fondue at The Mews on Deansgate in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Costing £37.50 each, included in the deal is a huge pot of melted Italian Fontina cheese served with homemade garlic croutons, sourdough crackers, and slices of British charcuterie.
You’ll also get to enjoy an hour and a half of endless pints of house pilsner and carafes of red or white wine to enjoy alongside.
Serving up to six people, the bottomless cheese fondue is available only when you pre-book, so make sure to get in touch ahead of your visit to let The Mews know that you’re coming.
If you’re not on the sauce, you can opt for the cheese fondue alone. Without the booze, it’s quite a bit cheaper at £25 for one, and £2.50 on top for any additional people who want to get stuck in.
Housed up on Deansgate Mews, just behind the main hustle and bustle of Deansgate, there’s plenty of space inside as well as a large, secluded terrace that is quite the suntrap (when the Manchester sun is shining).
Danny Jones -
3rd July 2024 
