The Trafford Centre has announced that Blanchflower Coffee and Bakery, a local independent brand, will open a new café at the retail and leisure destination next February. The 400 sq ft café will specialise in coffee and baked goods and will be located in the Upper Orient area.
Blanchflower’s arrival at Trafford Centre is part of an initiative to support and showcase distinctive local businesses. This effort aims to highlight the cultural and culinary richness of Manchester. The café’s location, an area once referred to as ‘Chinatown,’ is being reimagined as a vibrant dining destination celebrating homegrown Mancunian brands.
Founded by Phil and Claire Howells, Blanchflower is a family-run business that already operates two sites in Sale and Altrincham. Their new Trafford Centre location will be their third. The business is known for its ethos, “Everything Made In House,” which reflects its focus on handcrafted, high-quality offerings.
Blanchflower’s bakery, situated near its Sale café, produces all its bread, cakes, and pastries. The menu includes items such as cruffins, Bakewell tarts, focaccia, and homemade granola. All products are handmade by a small team of bakers and pastry chefs using locally sourced ingredients. Visitors can also enjoy freshly made soups and sandwiches, further expanding the café’s offering.
Kitty Vaughan, Head of UK Leisure and F&B Leasing at Pradera Lateral, commented:
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Blanchflower Coffee and Bakery to Trafford Centre. As a popular local business, they have a vibrant and unparalleled offering that we know our visitors will be looking forward to experiencing. December is an exciting time for Trafford Centre, as we’re elevating the entire dining experience for our visitors, celebrating the innovation and quality that can be found right here in our region.”
Phil Howells, co-owner of Blanchflower, said:
“Since our journey running cafés in Manchester started in 2012, we’ve wanted to share our love of great coffee and food with as wide an audience as possible, so we’re really excited to reach Trafford Centre’s huge volume of visitors. It’s a real vote of confidence that such a large Manchester institution is backing an independent and local business like ours, and we can’t wait to get stuck in.”
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