People already love Bluebird Bakery for its fantastic bread and pastries. And now it is ready to titillate our cultural tastebuds too.
It is set to introduce Rise in their Acomb location – an evening space for art, music and community events.
From its opening in Acomb nearly two years ago, the bakery and cafe has become a staple in the local community, providing a space for friends and family to relax and catch up over great coffee and freshly-made goods.
Now, owners Nicky and Al Kippax are starting a new venture and opening up into the evenings for art exhibitions, live music, comedy, spoken word and community events.
YorkMix spoke with Nicky and Al to find out more.
“We’re aiming for RISE to be an art, music and community space,” said Nicky. “Acomb is such a lively, diverse and friendly place to be, so it makes sense that we would reflect that.
“We thought a creative hub would be a great thing to bring to Acomb. We’ve had lots of interest from local musicians and local artists, who are quite keen on supporting us and taking part in the project.”
“We always thought this venue could be something else,” added Al. “The feeling that we could do something other than be a cafe or a bakery.”
RISE is aiming to open from mid-July, with proposed opening times of Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm to 10pm. If the demand is there, it may also open on Monday and Tuesdays too. The normal daytime hours will stay the same.
Bluebird Bakery in Acomb have hosted events previously such as craft fairs, poetry nights and live music which had proved popular.
Since its opening, the venue has been consistently busy with regular customers who have been coming since the beginning.
“It’s been a fantastic reception from the people of Acomb,” said Nicky. “The local community have helped shape this place.”
Bluebird Bakery also have shops in Malton’s Talbot Yard, Leeds Kirkgate Market, Holmfirth and on Little Shambles in York.
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RISE will also introduce an evening menu, including bar snacks such as a Yorkshire cheese board using local cheeses and pickles and the bakery’s own chutneys and sourdough.
“We’ve got a licence now so we’ll be selling local beers and ciders too, such as Brass Castle and Turning Point,” said Nicky. They will also stock Rare Bird gin.
There are also plans to host guest DJs on a Saturday night.
The venue will also host ‘temperance nights’, for families or for those who prefer not to drink alcohol.
“There’s not many places that you can go to in York where you just have a soft drink in the evening,” said Nicky.
“What we aim to be is a friendly and accessible space where people can feel comfortable, whether they’re drinking or not.”
The official opening night and first events haven’t been announced yet but Al said “we’re getting them lined up.”
“Joe Coates from The Crescent has been really helpful,” added Nicky. “He’s helped push a few bands our way.”
“The main thing is we need to get the staffing right first,” said Al. “Once we’ve got that right, then we can firm things up.”
The bakery is looking for experienced and enthusiastic bar staff to help with the new project. If you are great with people, eager to learn and interested in working with Bluebird Bakery, please contact Nicky at [email protected] with an up to date CV.
The bakery also runs a rolling apprenticeship scheme, training aspiring bakers to work alongside experienced staff. The business is ‘Real Living Wage’ accredited which means that all staff are paid a UK wage rate voluntarily paid by 7,000 UK businesses who believe staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming people.”
Find out more about Bluebird Bakery over on their website.
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