Old Trafford Bakery

Much like Manchester, Trafford has a lot to answer for. A sprawling borough, at its southernmost tip you’ll find picturesque Cheshire villages, the tail end of upmarket urban centres and market towns. At the very north, one of Europe’s biggest industrial districts, Manchester United and the rows of stereotypical red brick terraces setting the tone. It’s in and amongst this maze of Victorian suburbia that some of the area’s best kept secrets are found. Aptly christened, the Old Trafford Bakery — an authentic Caribbean operation — is one to add to the list next time you’re passing through. 

Established in 1960, Old Trafford Bakery prides itself on traditional West Indian flavours and putting “a little bliss into every bite”. In terms of what’s on offer, you can pick from hard dough bread, coco bread, banana cake, ginger cake, fruit buns, and Jamaica bulla cake — a dense, rich, dark delight made with molasses, brown sugar, nutmeg and ginger. Of course, you’ll also find a range of freshly prepared patties, which are some of the real highlights here. Lamb, beef, chicken, fish and vegetable, all with a healthy kick of Caribbean spice and that all-important first bite crunch. The ideal snack, or if you want to double up, easily enough to satisfy a proper lunchtime hunger. 

Old Trafford Bakery doesn’t just focus on customers walking in off the street, either. Like any good bread and dough setup, this place does as much business catering events and corporate clients, which speaks volumes about the volume of food they produce and the high quality they maintain. A takeaway menu, featuring a variety of staple Caribbean meals on regular rotation, adds to the offering, and our best advice is to head down and see what’s being cooked on the day. A must try if you’re heading to a match at the nearby Old Trafford football and cricket stadiums, it’s a yes from us.