Run by a mother and daughter team who have probably forgotten more about making cakes and other sweet treats than we will ever claim to know, baking runs in the blood here, with the youngest of the pair learning how to decorate with icing while still a toddler. Years spent making delicacies for friends and family led to the Bolton Youth Market, a free platform allowing traders between 13 and 30 to sell their wares, helping build up a business that would become Bella’s Bakes as of 2021. Today, it’s a thriving success and also a key part of the local community. But let’s start with what’s in the oven.
Handmade, freshly baked celebration and wedding cakes, tray bakes, treat boxes, cookies, stuffed cookies, cookie pies, cheesecakes and more are all available, although we’re told in no uncertain terms not to pigeonhole what the duo do. As such, we should mention they also offer savoury platters, children’s picnic boxes, and cater to buffets, corporate lunches and other food-focused events. Pre-orders are taken on everything, with collection available Monday to Saturday.
Outside all that, Bella’s Bakes is an annual fixture at the excellent Bolton Food Festival, and to give an idea as to just how popular they are, at 2023’s event they shifted 1,600 cakes and were featured on BBC television with James Martin and BBC Manchester radio. A monthly pop-up at Hunters The Bakers has also been a big hit, and twice yearly there’s a fundraising drive for Bolton Hospice. All of which goes someway to explaining why the namesake Bella has been named one of the town’s top entrepreneurs, and has already been honoured with the Young Woman In Business gong at the Bolton Young Women In Business Awards. A credit to the borough, make no mistake.