Bakery, shop and café set to open in York – complete with outside seating

There is nothing nicer than the smell of freshly-baked bread – and it could soon be wafting across Acomb every morning.

Successful York business Bluebird Bakery has unveiled plans to open a bakery, shop and café on Acomb Road.

If the application is approved, it would see baking ovens installed in the now empty Bathstore building.

There would be a café where you could enjoy sandwiches, cakes and other treats, indoors and out.

And a shop to pick up your fresh bread order.

Sourdough and salted caramels

An application to City of York Council says: “The predominant space within the unit will comprise the bakery, with space for preparation, baking ovens and storage all associated with commercial bakery operations.

“The street frontage space lends itself nicely to a shop for the sales of the bakery produce, and for a café for hot and cold drinks and consumption of the bakery wares, both in-house and to take away.”

And part of the outside hardstanding space could be covered with a canopy. “This would create an ideal opportunity for an appropriate outdoor activity to enhance the appeal of the bakery business, to add and enhance the street frontage shopping experience, and to bring additional life to this busy retail area and street.”

According to the plans for the exterior, the bakery will make everything from seven-seeder sourdough loafs to ciabatta to the Bengali five-spice roll.

Sweet treats include salted caramels, Bluebird brownies and Earl Grey teacakes.

Family firm

Bluebird Bakery is the creation of former London chef Al Kippax and his wife Nicky.

Al worked in Meltons Too before hitting on the idea of becoming a baker. They sold their first loaves on York market, and opened shops in Malton, Little Shambles, York, and in Kirkgate Market, Leeds.

Now they supply ‘real bread’ to lots of city cafés and restaurants, as well as selling through their shops.

And the Acomb outlet is “an exciting opportunity to utilise an empty commercial unit, bring further employment opportunity to this important shopping area and to improve the retail opportunity in a popular retail street”.