The sisters behind cult Lancashire favourite Finch Bakery are opening a new pop-up in Manchester next week.
Known for creating indulgent, gut-busting treats like cookie pies, cake jars, ‘school dinner cake’, giant celebration cakes and munchable brownies and blondies, the news of their arrival is sure to get Manchester’s sweet tooths excited.
The good news? There’s not long to wait now.
Started by two twin sisters with a passion for baking, the pair first started messing around in the kitchen whilst doing their degrees at university.
Image: Finch Bakery
But what first began as a hobby conducted out of their parent’s kitchen has since grown into a Lancashire cult favourite after Lauren and Rachel Finch opened the doors to their first bakery in Great Harwood six years ago.
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What started out as a self-proclaimed “calorific hobby” catapulted into a fully-fledged business complete with a shop, a unit, forty employees, a van, and an online delivery service.
The pair even released their own best-selling cookbook, The Finch Bakery: Sweet Homemade Treats and Showstopper Celebration Cakes in August last year – which went on to top the Sunday Times bestseller list.
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Now, they’re expanding into Manchester city centre with their very first pop-up at Harvey Nichols.
Image: Finch Bakery
Opening from 7 February, the pair will be selling their famous ‘cake in a cup’ creations in store, offering shoppers everything from indulgent chocolate-laden brownies and Biscoff blondie,s to colourful layered cake jars.
Their signature treats will be available to take away from a new unit created for them on the department store’s ground floor, whilst a selection of daily bakes will be made available to enjoy inside too from the Second Floor Deli Bar.
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You’ll be able to find the pair’s goodies on sale at Harvey Nichols from 7 February for the next six months.
Image: Finch Bakery
Speaking on the new opening, the pair said: “We can finally reveal we are opening a second Finch Bakery site…in our dream location of Manchester City centre!
“And where better than Harvey Nichols? We’re so pleased to be given the opportunity to pop up in such an iconic store and we can’t wait to bring our cakes and brownies to the people of Manchester.”
To find out more, head over to their Instagram to get a good look at all the different bakes they have on offer.
Police ‘delighted’ after Manchester man is jailed for running county lines drug operation
Emily Sergeant
A Manchester man has been jailed for his part in running a county lines drug operation that exploited vulnerable people.
Following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) County Lines Team, John Joyce, of Stuart Street in Manchester, was identified as operating a county lines drugs network that supplied Class A drugs across Greater Manchester, and was subsequently jailed for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
The investigation – which uncovered extensive evidence of drug supply – found that Joyce was the controller of the “CEE” line – a mobile number used to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.
Among that ‘extensive’ evidence was more than 31,000 text messages and 8,700 calls linked to drug dealing activity, and ‘flare’ messages advertising drugs for sale sent in bulk, as well as forensic analysis linking Joyce to two personal mobile numbers and vehicles used during the operation.
CCTV footage was also uncovered showing Joyce purchasing top-up vouchers for the drugs line.
#JAILED | Man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for running county lines drug operation
Our County Lines Team investigation uncovered extensive evidence of drug supply & found he was the controller of the “CEE” line, a mobile number used to distribute crack cocaine & heroin pic.twitter.com/WAdej9lLxU
And the final nail in the coffin was that a search of the 28-year-old’s Manchester apartment uncovered more than 460g of crack cocaine, heroin, drug paraphernalia, and cash.
Joyce fled the UK and headed to Dubai in an attempt to evade justice, but was arrested upon his return at Manchester Airport in October 2025.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to dismantling county lines networks that exploit vulnerable people and blight communities,” explained Detective Constable Josh Claxton, of GMP’s County Lines Team.
“Joyce’s operation was significant and his sentence reflects the harm caused by class A drug supply in Greater Manchester.
“He evaded justice for a long time, but now we are delighted to have locked him up so he can no longer cause damage to people’s lives.”
Joyce has been jailed for five years and three months after appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court this week (Tuesday 16 December).
Featured Image – GMP
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Popular bar chain The Alchemist to rewind back to 2010 with cocktails and dishes for £6 next month
Emily Sergeant
One of the UK’s most popular bar chains is celebrating its sweet 16th birthday next month by winding back to 2010.
Money is always tight in January, right?
Once Christmas is over with, and so is the festive feasting and drinking, many like to use the first month of the new year to lay low and save some money back up – which is why The Alchemist is launching a limited-edition ‘2010 Revival Menu’, bringing back some of its most iconic early cocktails and dishes – all at their original prices from 16 years ago.
For the whole month, you can enjoy the curated throwback selection starting from £6, which i perfectly timed for a month of saving without sacrificing going out.
The Alchemist is rewinding back to 2010 with cocktails and dishes for £6 / Credit: The Manc Group
The 2010 Revival Menu includes the return of the fan-favourite White Chocolate Raspberry Martini for £6 on the cocktail menu, which was an early Alchemist staple, alongside other fan-favourites like the Colour Changing One and Virgin Pornstar, both for £6 again.
When it comes to food dishes for £6, you can tuck into a selection of different refreshing salads, while stretching your budget up to £10 will get you things like Chicken in a Basket, a Cheeseburger, and Fish and Chips.
Other iconic Alchemist cocktails returning for a fraction of the price next month include the popular Smoky Old Fashioned, and Dead Read Zombie – both for £8.
The Alchemist opened its original bar in Manchester‘s swanky Spinningfields district all the way back in 2010, and quickly became a popular and stylish destination with its high ceilings and industrial features, and has since developed into a much larger chain – with not only more Manchester destinations, but others across the UK too.
Georgina Pellant -
31st January 2022 
