A popular borough bakery is set to move to a new premises.

Rick Marlow, founder of MASA in Prestwich, said he has signed a seven-year lease and hopes to open the bakery's new home on Bury New Road "this side of Christmas".

Currently located in the Longfield Centre, MASA mainly supplies other nearby businesses with freshly made produce, including Village Greens Coop, OSMA, Dokes and Wine and Wallop, to name just a few.

The bakery is open to the public on the second Saturday of each month as part of Prestwich Makers Market and has proven so popular that they have decided to increase their offer.

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Rick said: “We’ve built up a loyal customer base and wanted to keep supplying to the people of Prestwich.  

"We’ve been so lucky and kept that core base since we first opened.

“With the plans to close the centre, we thought we would hedge our bets. This unit popped up and it felt like time to give it a go.”

The current unit in the Longfield Centre is due to be knocked down as part of a £100m regeneration project planned for the town.

Rick honed his skills while working in a kitchen and took a particular interest in baking.

He then began the business almost five years ago, baking from his mum's garage throughout the Covid lockdowns.

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MASA’s rosemary and sea salt focaccia won in Britain’s Best Loaf competition last year in the "International" category while their country sourdough won the "Plain Sourdough" category.

Rick has also appeared on the TV programme, Saturday Kitchen Live.

He added: “We realised we’d be missing a trick not serving the public.

“It’s always nice seeing people and regulars in person and Village Greens have been championing us all the way."

While the business does not have an official opening date just yet, Rick plans to open for a few days a week on “this side of Christmas” with a full opening in the new year.

They will be hosting a core menu initially with a view to offering a breakfast and lunch menu once established in the new bakery at 441 Bury New Road.   

Rick added: “We hope we help to add to Prestwich’s independent scene. We love the area and really want it to prosper.

“It’s nice to be part of the community.”