The Manchester bakers are hot-footing over to Kampus
If you have eaten bread in a restaurant anywhere in Manchester over the past five years chances are you have taken a bite out of a Pollen Bakery creation. The likes of Takk, Idle Hands and Sugo Pasta Kitchen have all featured Pollen’s signature loaves on their respective menus for some time now. Even Adam Reid was so taken with the bakes that he commissioned a special ale and malt loaf for his own restaurant, The French at the Midland Hotel.
In only a few years Pollen has become a real Manchester treasure
Now the team of independent bakers at Pollen, founded by Hannah Calvert and Chris Kelly, is expanding its offering further in to the city centre with a spot in the trendy new Kampus neighbourhood.
Die-hard Pollen pastry fans will remember queuing at the original site under Piccadilly train station just to get a glimpse of the infamous cruffins and "28-hour sour" which usually sold out within minutes. Nowadays you can take a walk along Cotton Field Wharf on the marina on a Saturday morning and witness the usual queue of loaf-lovers snaking along the canal.
Where will the new Pollen Bakery be?
The new sourdough and viennoiserie bakery will be part of the super cool Kampus garden neighbourhood which has seen recent residencies from Le Social wine and a temporary restaurant from local lads Josh Shanahan and James Lord of Tine.
“We’d been looking for a place in the city to grow for a while and Kampus really appealed to us.” Said Hannah, “The location right next to the canal is perfect and it’s rare to find somewhere with such a strong sense of community and independent spirit.”
Pollen’s new offering will sit alongside new units from other Manchester-based success stories General Stores and giant pizza slingers Nell’s.
The spot will house a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating right in the greenery of the Kampus garden and space for Pollen’s popular supper clubs and workshops as well as an open kitchen where customers will be able to watch the talented patisserie team at work.
What to expect from the new Pollen at Kampus
On top of all the Pollen bakery favourites, which include a choice of five sourdough loaves and a selection of classic pastry, punters will be treated to an expanded brunch menu championing, as always from this team, seasonal and local produce alongside some exciting new creations.
Artists and designers are also on the roster for this special new space with wall art provided by friend of the team, Scottish textile artist Hayley McCirrick and crockery and serve-ware designed by ceramicist Frida Cooper.
Adam Higgins from CAPITAL&CENTRIC said, “In only a few years Pollen has become a real Manchester treasure. It’ll be great for our residents to be able to pop downstairs and enjoy a coffee and a pastry in the morning or for those who work nearby to grab a loaf or stop by for lunch.”
An opening in early 2022 is expected for the new site, with building work scheduled to start next month. Manchester-based design studio NoChintz (also known for Foundation Coffee) is leading the project with an expectation to feature organic textures and colours which will echo the dishes on Pollen’s new menu.
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