It’s been a massive hit
Sticky Fingers bakery recently opened on the Underbanks in Stockport(Image: Manchester Evening News)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that persistence is key. It’s a truth borne out recently by several trips made to Stockport town centre.
There’s been plenty going on in the town over the last few years, with big brands moving in and independent bars and restaurants putting it on the map. But it seems we’ve all been waiting for one place in particular to open its doors – Sticky Fingers.
It was three years ago that husband and wife Adrian and Klaudyna brought a slice of Poland to Stockport’s historic market hall, selling traditional bakes from home, freshly baked bread and outstanding coffee.
A small concession inside the market, it soon became a hit, selling out brioche-style cakes the size of a small child’s head and some of the best baked goods in Greater Manchester.
Inside Sticky Fingers in Stockport(Image: MEN)
The couple moved to Liverpool first. Before opening the cafe, Klaudyna worked as a pastry chef while Adrian worked as a lorry driver. Having realised their dream of opening a cafe, their sights were then set on something a little bigger where they could do their baking in-house.
When a unit became available on the Underbanks, right in the centre of town – opposite The White Lion Pub and just down from Merseyway ahopping centre – it seemed like the perfect spot for the business. Customers clearly agreed.
That explains the queues I’ve encountered every time I’ve tried to pop in over the last three weeks since its opened its new bakery and cafe. No complaints here – it’s great to see a local business thriving and Stockport busy.
A Danish pastry and nduja roll at Sticky Fingers(Image: MEN)
Good things come to those that wait, as we know. A random mid-week lunchbreak and I thought I’d try again – this time the waiting paid off.
The windows fogged up due to the condensation, I pass through the mustard-coloured threshold and find others just like me gawping at the pastries behind the glass-fronted counter.
Beautifully plaited apple and hazelnut danishes and sugar-dusted cinnamon roles stacked like tyres line one end, while at the other. their house BLT sandwiched between a plump bun and croissants neatly cut down the middle and filled to the brim with savoury fillings.
The nduja bun at Sticky Fingers cafe in Stockport (Image: MEN)
At the end of the room, their team of bakers are busy baking the next batches and kneading dough, huge bags of flour serving as the only partition between the customers of the magic of the bakers beyond. Its understated and assured, and there’s a rhythm which indicates that despite how busy it is, the bakery feels like its been here for years.
Over the next two floors, customers carefully arrange their sweet bakes on mirrored silver trays, ready for Instagram, and eventually, to be consumed. If you can’t beat them, the join them, the mantra I adopt as I take my sweet and savoury bakes upstairs and settle myself down into one of the Mid Century-style armchairs.
A glossy bun with a deep red nduja centre is first thing to be devoured. The bun torn apart as I manage to get parmesan, fluffy bread and the spicy, Italian salami all in one bite. A sip of the flat white and a short break before I tackle the banoffee danish.
The banoffee Danish pastry at Sticky Fingers in Stockport (Image: MEN)
A thing of beauty. Its base showcases the precision and skill of great baking as the pastry carefully whips round into a spiral. Encasing a creamy, chocolate-coloured filling and dusted with icing sugar and a candied banana, the first bite is a delight.
Rather than sickly sweet, a well balanced banoffee flavour comes through, while the pastry, more than a mere vessel for the filling, is light, delicate and perfectly baked. The menu is pretty straightforward – around 10 sweet bakes and three or four savoury options – at least when I visited – and when they’re gone, they’re gone.
Many are twists of classics, and along the counter there will be something everyone recognises. Its early days so right now there aren’t any gluten-free options, though they’re trying to have at least one vegan option, and they’re looking to expand the menu as the weeks go on. It’s a really strong start from the bakery that has proven that slow and steady is the way.
Sticky Fingers bakery and cafe is located on Great Underbank and is open seven days a week, from 9am until 4pm, and from 9am until 3pm on Sundays. Their market stall will remain open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 9am until 4:40pm with coffee, bread, cakes and pastries.