Eats

Palms Bakery opens beautiful little coffee shop in Manchester shipping container village

Finally, Palms Bakery on tap.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th August 2025

Viral bakery Palms Bakery has opened its own coffee shop over in the shipping container village that is Pollard Yard.

The bakery rocketed to fame with its colourful shag cakes, where spikes of icing are used to make psychedelic baked show-stoppers.

Since then, founder Rachel Samuels has expanded to all sorts of playful retro-inspired bakes and set up shop at Pollard Yard alongside a whole host of other Manchester independent businesses.

Previously, the Palm Bakery masterpieces were only really been accessible when you ordered an entire cake.

But now she’s taken on an extra unit at Pollard Yard and, alongside the cafe’s co-founder and baker Alex Nixson-Evers, launched Palms Coffee, a sunny little spot that’s keeping her neighbours well-caffeinated and well-fed.

Blueberry matcha at Palms Coffee
Blueberry matcha at Palms Coffee
The sunny terrace
The sunny terrace
Palms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menu
Palms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menu
Palms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menu
Palms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menu
Palms Coffee is open at Pollard Yard
Palms Coffee is open at Pollard Yard
Palms Bakery now does sandwiches at Palms Coffee
Palms Bakery now does sandwiches at Palms Coffee

It means you can now tuck into bite-size, individual helpings of Rachel’s amazing bakes.

There are pretty, nostalgic cupcakes (sprinkles and glace cherries a must), gooey chocolate chip cookies, and miniature banana bread loafs too.

Customers can sit on the terrace surrounded by plants, tucking into flavoured matchas and iced coffees (best-sellers include maple cinnamon, pistachio, and blueberry).

It seems to have become the go-to lunch spot for those working in Pollard Yard and surrounds, but there’s enough here to tempt anyone out from nearby Ancoats too.

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Think sandwiches made with house-made focaccia, filled with mortadella and mozzarella, and a whole menu of toasties, like Reubens, kimchi cheese, and Caprese.

Palms Coffee is open now at Pollard Yard near Holt Town tram stop.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

Eats

A long-standing Italian restaurant in Trafford has sadly announced its imminent closure

Danny Jones Danny Jones Little Italy Timperley closing permanently

Another day, another bit of unfortunate hospitality news, as long-standing Greater Manchester restaurant, Little Italy in Timperley, has announced it is closing permanently very soon.

The Trafford favourite, which has been serving locals for nearly 20 years, has informed regular diners that it will sadly be closing its doors for good, with Little Italy’s final service set for later this month.

Having earned plenty of praise in its time, including being one of the few spots in and around the Altrincham area to have won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, before the borough saw its foodie boom begin.

But fast forward a decade, and the Timperley institution is yet another culinary casualty to be confirmed of late, with Little Italy sharing a tear-jerking statement online.

Sharing the tragic news on social media this Friday (5 Sep), the restaurant wrote: “To all our lovely customers, it is with a heavy heart that we share some news with you all. After over 18 years of serving you all in Timperley, we will be closing our doors later this month.

“This has not been an easy decision. Unfortunately, rising costs and a significant increase in rental [costs] have made it impossible to continue in a sustainable way. As much as we love what we do, the reality is that it has become too difficult to maintain under these circumstances.

“Over the coming weeks, we will continue to cook with love and serve with the same passion as always. We would love to see you all and share one more meal, and raise a glass together.”

Safe to say that the post has been met with an outpouring of condolences and support from natives nearby and those who have travelled to enjoy their food.

Little Italy went on to add that they will detail more about their final week of business as soon as possible.

They can’t be accused of not keeping up with times and not trying to promote via social media either, as they small family-run team – headed up by Sam Cauchi, who bought the site back in 2008 – have always given things a go besides the day-to-day operation of the restaurant.

Being one of many saddened customers to respond underneath the announcement, we couldn’t possibly sum up things better than local Vanessa Nice, who said: “Look at all these amazing comments – you certainly made your mark as a home from home for the residents of Timperley.

“The end of an era will always be sad, but sometimes life and families have to move on.”

As for Cauchi and co., they signed off by simply adding: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, kindness and friendship over the years. Timperley has been our home, and you have all been our family.

“Love from all the team at Little Italy.”

It goes without saying that we’re gutted for the gang and our thoughts are with everyone involved at this difficult time. For now, we can only say thank you to the countless Greater Manchester locations that continue to fall foul in the face of the rising pressures industry-wide. Case and point…

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

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Featured Images — Little Italy Timperley (via Facebook)

Eats

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

Chips @ No. 8, a chippy in Prestwich that’s lauded as one of the best in the UK, has announced the sad closure of its restaurant.

The award-winning takeaway made some big moves last year, expanding into the unit next door so that they could comfortable double their space downstairs and add a restaurant upstairs.

The restaurant was a brand-new concept for the much-loved Prestwich chippy, serving a seafood-focused menu that wasn’t necessarily all about the fryer.

But sadly, Chips @ No. 8 has announced that the restaurant element of its business, Loft @ No. 8, has closed for good.

They wrote that the economic climate and the huge amount of choice in Prestwich has left them struggling to fill seats in the chippy restaurant.

The good news is that the fish and chip shop itself remains open for business and thriving, and customers will be able to use the former restaurant space to eat their takeaway in.

The bar downstairs also remains open for business for a cheeky pint or glass of wine while you wait for your order.

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure
The Loft @ No. 8 is closing. Credit: The Manc Group
Chips @ No 8 in Prestwich
Curry sauce on a Chips @ No 8 chippy tea. Credit: The Manc Group

In a statement, Chips @ No. 8 said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Loft.

“With so many great places to eat in Prestwich, and the economic climate being what it is, we have struggled recently to fill enough seats to continue to make it a financially viable side to our business.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support whilst we were open, the team for their efforts, in particular, Craig, the creator of the delicious food that we had on offer up there.

“Chips @ No.8 remains open as normal and going forward, we are opening up the space upstairs for additional casual seating for the takeaway.

“The bar will remain open so you can still enjoy a pint or a glass of wine with your fish & chips, even if it is out of a box! We hope to see you soon!”

Go show the takeaway some support when you can.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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