Welcoming Vibes and a Focus On the Local: The Old Bakery’s New Vision

The Old Bakery's Restaurant Manager, Mac Dolphin

2025 has been an exciting year so far for The Old Bakery, with a recent refurbishment and a whole new style and menu, you could be forgiven for entering our doors and having to make a double take. 

As Restaurant Manager, Mac Dolphin suggests, “Walking into The Old Bakery no longer feels like picking your way through a residential property, rather a relaxed, casual restaurant.” 

Here since March, Mac has brought experience from working in foodservice and in niche international restaurants to make an impact on a restaurant that has now firmly found its identity and is now proving to be somewhere people feel comfortable in meeting at for a casual cocktail as they are a full three-course meal. 

The recent improvements have been funded by a £100,000 portion of the Towns Fund, a government scheme that aims to regenerate towns and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. This has seen the front of the restaurant and the entrance converted into a cool, welcoming lounge. 

Mac adds: “We’ve really concentrated on being open and welcome and we think that’s having a real effect, we’ve had more locals come and try the place out for the first time lately and that’s been great to see. 

“As we’re a non-profit restaurant, a somewhat unique position, we can afford to concentrate on training and the overall experience. This means a win-win, the College gains any profit we make and people get to come and experience something truly special.” 

A shift in the cocktail menu has also taken place, with more choice, some signature drinks and even a mocktail selection that’s proving popular. 

“We’ve got the usual cocktails you’d expect here, but the mocktails, particularly the custom ones we’ve created are proving very popular,” adds Mac, “We are using a range of non-alcoholic spirits made by Clean & Co which are giving them an authentic taste too.  

“We’re very excited to be developing some theme nights too, we have a fish night that is coming up on the 25th July, where we’ll be offering a fish tasting menu that incorporates salmon, scallops, sea trout, halibut and more. We’ve also got paired wines for each course so it should be a real gastronomic experience.” 

To find out more or to book a table, visit https://www.theold-bakery.co.uk/book