Popular café and pizzeria set to close later this month - with bosses fearing move 'could be terminal'

'It’s not easy. I hope we have filled a void'

The owners of a Greater Manchester venue which has served as a community hub, café and pizza spot for the last year said they have been told they have just weeks left before having to close down - suggesting it 'could be terminal' for business.

Bakehouse32 opened its doors in the former Stretford Foodhall unit on the corner of Chester Road, which forms part of the Stretford Mall development, last July. Starting life further down the road in a separate unit - also on Chester Road - the initial venture began as a New York-style pizzeria.

Alongside pizza, its menu also includes sandwiches, cakes and coffee from local and independent makers. Since moving into Stretford Mall, the venue, which is led by owner David Donovan-Brown, has become a hub for live events, including creative workshops and yoga classes.

In a post on social media, Bakehouse32 said it had been told it would need to vacate the unit at the end of the month after landlords Bruntwood issued a break-clause, which allows them to terminate a lease early.

The post explained that Bakehouse32 had been given the spot on Chester Road on a temporary basis, with the aim of relocating to Stretford Town Centre - as part of the wider regeneration plans from Bruntwood and Trafford Council plans - when work on new units on King Street was complete.

They explained: “We always knew that it could be a temporary move, potentially only 12 months, but the implication was that we would be moved from here to our new long-term home in the heart of Stretford’s new town centre.”

However, bosses said the area is not likely to be ready for businesses to move into until ‘late August at the earliest’ - meaning there will be a gap of almost two months between a possible relocation from when the current site is handed back to developers by July 2.

The café said it has also discovered that their site had now also been earmarked as a potential redevelopment spot for Costa Coffee. Bakehouse32 claimed that it made them feel that the ‘big players’ had been ‘assured continuity of trade’, whilst smaller businesses had been made to feel like they needed ‘out of the way’.

The venue added: “We thought that the developers would give us an extension until we could move, but what we hadn’t accounted for was our unit had been earmarked for Costa Coffee's relocation.

“It appears that the big players that are currently housed in the Mall, like Costa and Greggs, have been assured continuity of trade. In order for that to happen, they need us out of the way. So that leaves us facing an 11-week closure. Not ideal. In fact, it could be terminal.”

It is estimated there will eventually be between 40 and 50 outlets, including existing businesses, alongside the Chester Road side of what is currently Stretford Mall. Bruntwood recently told the Manchester Evening News that a launch of the newly-installed businesses was planned for the half-term break in mid-October.

“That length of closure would mean a huge loss of revenue at a crucial time of year,” the post added. “I’m sure other independents in Stretford will agree the last 6–12 months have been a struggle. The footfall seems to be at an all-time low now that most of the mall is closed.

“We’ve lost some really fantastic businesses during the redevelopment. We would be unable to keep hold of the amazing team we have built, staff retention would be impossible, 12 jobs lost. The bills would keep coming from HMRC long after our closure but with no revenue to pay for them.”

It added: “We are still hopeful that the developers will see that Bakehouse is valued by the people of Stretford and prioritize its survival, but as it stands, the 2nd of July is when the developers want to take vacant possession.

“We would really appreciate your support over the next couple of weeks. We are still pushing on with plans to become more of a social enterprise so we can be of real value to the community and provide more job opportunities, training and workshops.

"Massive thanks to everyone that has turned out over the last 12 months, huge thanks to all the other businesses that have collaborated with us along the way and, as ever, nothing but respect and love to every other business trying to keep Stretford alive during this transition.

“It’s not easy. I hope we have filled a void, and we are looking forward to firing up the ovens when we finally find our forever home, wherever that may be, sending love.”

In a joint statement, a spokesperson from Bruntwood and Trafford Council said: “We were pleased to welcome Bakehouse into Stretford town centre last year and we value the contribution they’ve made to the community. To support their transition from their previous unit, the Council provided a grant to help with the fit-out of their new temporary space.

“Coordinating the relocation of a diverse mix of businesses during the high street development is a complex process, and we're working closely with all parties to manage the transition and minimise disruption as much as possible.

“We’ve maintained regular contact with Bakehouse throughout their time in the town centre. In late February, we informed them that their current temporary unit would need to be vacated at the beginning of June. Since then, we’ve been able to extend their notice period to at least the beginning of July.

“We’re actively working with them to identify a suitable new space and are continuing ongoing discussions to support that process. We’re also exploring options to minimise any closure during the transition. Our priority is to support Bakehouse in securing a stable and sustainable future in the town centre.

“There is a place for big brands alongside independent businesses here in Stretford town centre and we are working hard to strike that balance and remain committed to finding a fair and constructive solution that works for everyone.”