The Baltic Bakehouse voluntarily closed its doors after inspectors said there was an ‘imminent health risk’ at one of its sites
The Baltic Bakehouse closed earlier this year(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Former staff members of a closed Liverpool bakery where mouse droppings were discovered say the conditions in which they worked were ‘absolutely filthy’. Established in 2012, Baltic Bakehouse had branches on Allerton Road and Bridgewater Street in the Baltic Triangle, as well as a bakery site in Wavertree‘s Wellington Road which supplied wholesale baked goods to a number of businesses in Liverpool’s hospitality industry.
The ECHO previously reported how the business had shut, with uncertainty surrounding its future. It was then confirmed by a spokesman for Liverpool Council that the closure was “voluntary”.
As of today it appears that the closure is also permanent as a document held by Companies House indicates that the Baltic Bakehouse has applied for creditors’ voluntary liquidation, which is appropriate when a company cannot pay its debts and involves its creditors in the liquidation.
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the ECHO, it was revealed that a raft of food hygiene and safety issues were uncovered by inspectors at the Wavertree site, including ‘evidence of rodent activity throughout the premises’.
The report noted mouse droppings were found at the Wellington Road building, both on floor level and above floor level, the preparation area, storeroom, proving area and WC area.
The closed Baltic Bakehouse in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. This site received a two-star hygiene rating in 2022 but another site received zero stars earlier this year
Four former staff members, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to the ECHO about their time working at the site.
One staff member claimed “there was a lot of mould next to where the oven was” and mouse droppings next to the couche – a long linen cloth that can be used to lay baguettes in to create a bed for the bread to rise.
The same staff member said: “We had a toilet on site that wasn’t functioning for four months. We had to p*** in buckets. We had to go home to go for a poo. The management tried unblocking it a few times but it needed fixing properly.”
One added: “I worked at the Wavertree site. Had mouse traps for them to stick on the floor. The place was minty. It was absolutely filthy. Some days I didn’t want to go in.”
Baltic Bakehouse closed on Allerton Road(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The ECHO approached the Baltic Bakehouse, which employed a team of 24 staff across its three sites, to put the claims made by former staff members to them. We sent emails, Instagram messages and phoned the number on their Instagram but it appeared to be disconnected and we have yet to receive a response.
A council report from April 9, 2025 on the Wellington Road site said it was “completely unacceptable” to operate in the conditions found during the inspection. It said that exposing food to such activity can cause food to become “unfit for human consumption” and therefore the “situation at the time presented an imminent risk to health”.
The Bridgewater Street venue was also found to have issues during an inspection in 2022 – albeit not to the same extent. The FOI revealed that this store needed an “effective stock control system” and “staff training” was required. It received a two on the food hygiene rating scale. The Allerton Road shop was found to be the best of the three, receiving a five rating – the highest available – in an inspection in 2019.
The ECHO previously reported how staff from the Baltic Bakehouse said they did not receive their final wages. A number of former staff members contacted the ECHO following the sudden closure of the business to express their shock at finding they were out of work after receiving phone calls from one of the owners, Sam Henley.
The closed Baltic Bakehouse on Liverpool’s Allerton Road
Staff members were initially told they would be paid up to their last shift on their usual payday on the 25th of the month. However, team members then received a letter, seen by the ECHO and signed by Baltic Bakehouse director Brenda Henley, informing them they would not be paid on April 25.
The letter said: “Unfortunately Baltic Bakehouse Ltd will not be able to pay you your outstanding salary on 25 April 2025. This applies to all employees.
“The directors are exploring the possible options for the business going forward and we are working hard to identify the best way forward for all stakeholders including you. The decision to close the business was not taken lightly and was a last resort.
“You will ultimately receive payment in full for your hours worked, and any other statutory entitlements either from Baltic Bakehouse Ltd or the Government Redundancy service.”
Back in April, director Brenda Henley told the ECHO: “All Baltic Bakehouse staff will receive wages owed, due to the commercially sensitive nature of information about the business we are unable to comment further. Unfortunately such problems are common where a business undergoes such a change in its circumstances.”
Managing directors and Insolvency Practitioners Jeremy Woodside and Tracey Pye from the Manchester office of business advisory firm Quantuma, were appointed as Liquidators for Baltic Bakehouse Limited on 26 June 2025.
They said that the Baltic Bakehouse’s financial difficulties were initially attributable to events arising in 2023, including a move to a new bakery which resulted in a significant increase in costs and overheads.
They added that the company suffered an after-tax loss and struggled with increased overheads, in particular energy, rent and insurance costs.
They continued that in late 2024, a dispute with the council over its Bridgewater Café site forced the business to reduce its capacity.
In March 2025, the company failed a hygiene inspection, forcing the bakery to be closed, without any indication of when it could reopen.
In the circumstances, the directors considered that they had no other option but to cease to trade. On 10 April 2025, the company made all employees roles redundant and ceased to trade.
Baltic Bakehouse’ Directors took advice from Quantuma on 17 April 2025.
Following a review of the company’s financial position by Quantuma, it was evident that the company was insolvent, as it was unable to pay its debts as they fell due.
Quantuma was formally instructed to assist with the formalities of placing the company into creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
The closed Baltic Bakehouse in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle
This week a staff member told the ECHO how they felt the whole situation was “strange” at first, but “left it”, expecting to be paid as normal. Of the two staff members who told The ECHO they had not been paid, both confirmed that as of September 3 they had still not received the wages owed.
The former staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve never been in this position before. I’ve got bills coming out every month.”
A final staff member who the ECHO spoke with added: “I was banking on this month and I’ve had no pay […] it’s just a case of taking each day as it comes. I live on my own so I don’t have anyone else to depend on, it’s really stressful.
“It’s proper getting me down. I was waiting until the 25th and my mum said ‘just wait and see, you might get paid’. We were all young in the cafes and I felt so naïve. It was an enjoyable job and I feel like I’ve lost friendships as well.”
Quantuma managing director and Joint Liquidator Jeremy Woodside said: “It is deeply regrettable that Baltic Bakehouse has been forced to cease trading, due to a series of challenging circumstances. As joint liquidators, our immediate priorities have been to provide appropriate support to those whose jobs have been affected, whilst seeking to obtain maximum value for the Company’s creditors.
“Our priority is to ensure the affected staff are able to make appropriate claims on the redundancy payments office. On the date of appointment, our inhouse ERA specialists issued 21 RP1s to affected staff for completion. To date we have had 17 of these returned. It is our understanding the RPO lead from receipt of claim to payments being made is in the region of six weeks.”