Bibble Bakes to leave Ashfield Road shop as business goes back to its roots

Bibble Bakes is set to leave its colourful Ashfield Road bakery – but owner Lori-Anne Brandt has reassured customers that this is far from the end of the much-loved Sale business.

Lori-Anne announced the news in a candid social media video, explaining that the decision to give up the physical shop has been made for financial reasons. Bibble Bakes will continue, returning to a model without a walk-in bakery, with customers able to collect their orders from a new address.

"It will no longer be a physical shop that you can walk into and buy your brownies from anymore," she explained. "I’ve had to make the decision purely for financial reasons, not because I hate having the shop or anything like that. This has been my dream. I've done my dream."

Before its Ashfield Road location, Bibble Bakes was already well known locally, including as a regular trader at Sale's markets. After a break from the business, she announced in summer 2024 that she was taking the leap into bricks and mortar, describing having her own shop as a long-held dream.

Bibble Bakes opened on Ashfield Road that September, transforming the unit into an instantly recognisable lilac and pink bakery. Over the past two years, it has become a familiar little spot for brownies, Bakewells, cupcakes, celebration cakes and plenty more – but Lori-Anne has been open about the realities behind running the shop.

“The last two years have been just wonderful. I've really enjoyed it," she said. "Obviously it hasn't gone to plan completely but that is life."

Ultimately, she explained that the cost of running the premises means keeping the shop open no longer makes financial sense. While closing the doors on a business you dreamed of opening could easily be viewed as a sad ending, Lori-Anne appears to be looking at the move rather differently.

"Really, it’s not a bad thing,”"she told followers. "I’m actually really excited."

Opening your business in a physical location takes a huge leap of faith in the current economy and keeping a small independent business going sometimes means knowing when it needs to change shape. Lori-Anne took that leap, opened the bakery she had dreamed about, welcomed customers through its doors for almost two years – and now Bibble Bakes gets to move into its next chapter.

Customers will still see Lori-Anne at the Ashfield Road shop over the coming days as she continues baking and begins clearing the premises, with some items also being sold off. She expects the collection point for Bibble Bakes orders to move to a different address within around 10 days.

So, while Sale might be saying goodbye to that unmistakable purple shopfront, it isn't saying goodbye to Bibble Bakes – or its brownies!