A popular Newcastle city centre bakery will soon be firing up the ovens in a second base in Gosforth – and is giving customers the chance to get it off the ground sooner rather than later.
When Pink Lane Bakery was first opened by Neil Le Flohic seven years ago under the name Sugar Down Bakery, he saw it as a being a companion business to a nearby cafe he owned at the time. However, it soon became apparent that the firm’s artisan breads, patries and croissants were the shining stars of the business, and sales have soared year after year thanks to a steady stream of regulars.
After selling the cafe and bringing in two long-term staff members as business partners, the trio relaunched as Pink Lane Bakery and are now selling more pies, pastries, and sausage rolls than ever.
Meeting demand in the tiny 376sqft space, however, has always proved challenging – but that won’t be a problem from next month, if the bakery’s Indiegogo crowdfund campaign meets its £10,000 target.
Pink Lane Bakery has taken on the old Fire Station in Gosforth High Street, moving into the space where two fire engines were once housed.
Mr Le Flohic said the three owners have ploughed all the profits from the last year into buying new kit, including new ovens, which he has started to move into place this week.
The £10,000 from the Indiegogo campaign will allow the firm to swap out the huge ruller shutters for a beautifully crafted wood and glazed entrance and also buy a wooden counter and lighting.
Once finished customers will be able to see what the bakers are making and chat to them while they stock up on goodies, and Mr Le Flohic said there will be much more of them too.
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The new bakery will open regardless, but the crowdfund will dictate how quickly, he said.
“Whatever happens, it’s going to open. But it’s the way in which it opens that’s affected by the crowdfund campaign.
“We used to do some wholesale work but knocked that on the head because we’re so busy in the shop, but we’re looking at doing more wholesale work again once we get into Gosforth.
“We also had to stop making celebration cake - like birthday cakes and wedding cakes – and I’ll be able to do those again.
“We first looked at the old fire station building a few years ago, when no one had moved in, but didn’t move in, and have never found anything as nice as that space.
“In that time it has become a lively little hub, with a yoga studio, life coach, the Beam Cafe and a beautician.
“And Gosforth is doing really well. Empty shops don’t stay empty for long and it has a real community focus and I could really see ourselves there.
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“The crowdfund campaign is up to just under £6,000 and has surpassed all expectations. I’m amazed by the financial and personal supprt we’ve been getting. It’s so nice that people are so excited by it.”
A whole list of perks has been included in the Indiegogo campaign, which has already reached £5,955 from 123 backers and has 18 days to reach its target, including a loaf of bread and invite to the launch for £10, and a Saturday breakfast bag full of pastries, breads and bagels for £25.
Other perks include a birthday cake for £50, a Christmas parcel of a Christmas cake, sourdough stollen, mince pies and other treats for £75, and a place on a bread course for £150.
For more details on the campaign visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pink-lane-bakery-is-expanding#/