Published: 5/03/2025
Tell us about Long Bois
We opened in October 2020, very much in the midst of the pandemic. The bakery itself is set on a residential street in a Manchester suburb, sitting on the site of an old corner shop that had been left empty for the sixteen years prior. We regularly get people coming in and telling us that they used to get their penny sweets there thirty odd years ago!
It was a conscious decision for me to choose a site away from the city centre, as I wanted to create a true neighbourhood bakery that could be loved and supported by the surrounding community, and I think we’ve achieved that. Many regulars have become friends, and we’ve watched many of their babies grow into small children now, which is just so lovely.
What can we expect on the menu and do you have a fave?
Picking a favourite is too hard! We’re a vegetarian bakery and we try to reflect the seasons in our bakes, so we’re known for always having a wide everchanging range on the counter everyday. Some of our regular bakes include our (vegan) blueberry & dark chocolate babkas, interesting savoury bakes such as the ‘Pain au Pickle’ (a savoury pain suisse, stuffed with mustardy bechamel & a whole gherkin), and our lamingtons (vanilla genoise sponge filled with seasonal home made jam & dipped in ganache, coconut, petals and topped with fresh whipped cream & the Long Boi’s fave – a morello cherry). The Long Boi’s ethos is definitely to make bakes that are delicious, but also fun, interesting and exciting. And the provenance of our ingredients is important to me – I try to source specialist bits from independent businesses where possible.
Is the team exclusively women, or do you have any men working alongside you?
I’m the sole owner – and have assembled an elite team of amazing women to help me! It was never my original intention to build an only female team, rather something that has happened organically but actually feels right for the brand. It was a happy accident but now I can’t imagine it any other way.
Has being a women-led business impacted your journey and the way you operate?
I’m unsure if it’s impacted my journey in ways that are easy to quantify, but what I will say is that the bakery definitely feels like a safe and welcoming space. There are loads of my male peers in the industry who are respectful, kind and treat women equally (many who I’ve worked alongside) – but I do think there’s something to be said about creating a kitchen free of ego, where we don’t feel patronised or looked down on. There aren’t many of those in the world, and it does feel freeing.
What advice would you give to other women looking to start their own business, particularly in industries that may traditionally be male-dominated?
Believe in your own talents, keep pushing and don’t listen to those who say you can’t. And don’t feel as though you have to take all that unsolicited business advice from all the men who love to dish it out!! Literally my least favourite thing.
Whos your fave ladies – anyone inspirational you wanna shout out?
Baking wise my friend Karishma is a one woman team smashing out insane cakes and dough (and dance moves). Her flavours are out of this world!
Then the girls over at 101 Bakery in Edinburgh – everything just looks so beautiful, as well as tasting delicious. Again, their flavours are always interesting – I love it when people don’t go for the same tired combinations.
And then Isca is a neighbourhood restaurant around the corner from the bakery, owned by Caroline & Izzy. They serve amazing organic veggie food alongside carefully selected natural wine – I think what they’ve built is wonderful.
Do you have any plans to celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
We’re actually not doing anything differently, because everyday is International Women’s Day at Long Boi’s! Sorry if that’s a cop out (but it’s true).
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