The hatch-style bakery launched by lockdown bakers that's bringing a slice of Brazil to Manchester

For many of us who baked our way through successive lockdowns, the eventual resumption of ‘normal’ service meant our sudden devotion to sourdough starters and banana bread was rather brief. But, for self-taught baker Matt and his partner Deborah, both originally from Brazil, it was only just the beginning.

What started as a way to pass the time in their one-bed flat in Ancoats during the pandemic turned into a real passion project, and initiated a new chapter for the couple in the form of their own bakery. Aptly known as The Flat Baker, the pair, who previously worked in the film industry, enjoyed whipping up Brazilian-inspired baked goods for their friends and neighbours so much that they decided to make a go of it and create a fully-fledged bakery selling to wholesalers and popping up at food markets across Manchester.

Naturally, the business quickly outgrew the flat, so when a site on Radium Street in Ancoats became available, they jumped at the chance to take the business to the next level. And this weekend, after months of prep, they’ve finally opened the doors, or rather windows, onto their new bakery studio.

“Matt always had this dream of opening this Brazilian-English restaurant and it had always been in the back of our minds,” explained Deborah. Then, when lockdown came, like a lot of people we had more time so we turned to baking and as we were doing it more, something just clicked.

“He was looking for a career change, it was something he likes doing, and he felt it was the right time to open his own business. But, when we were initially baking in the flat we didn’t know we were creating a business as such, it really did start as a fun thing in lockdown.

"We ended up buying a huge oven, which I squeezed into