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Metro
29-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
Much-loved bakers to close all sites for good tomorrow
A beloved bakery chain founded to raise money for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic is about to close all of its sites. Loaf MCR started off inside a shipping container on Pollard Yard, a co-working space in Manchester, selling about 50 cakes a week in 2021. But some four years and three site openings later, the bakery's founder announced earlier this month that they will be closing for good. The final day the two Loaf MCR cafés – on Salford's Affinity Living Riverview and Manchester's Oxford Road – will be open is tomorrow, April 30. This also applies to the company's concession stand at the Trafford Centre Selfridge's. 'I've made the incredibly tough decision to close Loaf MCR,' Aidan Ryan said in a statement titled 'end of an era' shared on social media. 'Loaf began in 2020 as a small lockdown idea to raise money for the NHS – and somehow grew into a bold, pink cake business that lived in a shipping container, then cafés on Oxford St and even Selfridges! 'It was more than I ever dreamed of. It was fun, bold, unapologetically pink – and full of heart.' Aiden and his partner began the business in 2020, baking loaf cakes topped with Custard Creams, Jammie Dodgers, Biscoff Biscuits and pink wafers to raise money for the NHS Million. 83 Oxford St, Manchester, M1 6EG Affinity Riverview, 29 New Bailey St, Salford, M3 5GN Selfridge's, 60 The Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Stretford, M17 8DA By the following year, Aiden was selling sweet treats at local events for Selfridge's and Pretty Little Thing – all while working a day job. After opening its first branch in 2022, Loaf MCR quickly built a cult following among Manchester's food scene for its pink walls. And a community hub, too. Loaf MCR has opened their doors every year on Christmas Day to people struggling with loneliness and homelessness. 'But behind the scenes, it's been a really hard year,' Ryan added. 'We lost essential funding, faced delayed payments and invoices, battled rising costs, and unexpected hits – including a supplier taking thousands from our account without permission. It led to cashflow issues we couldn't recover from.' Ryan said the battered business has been struggling to pay bills and even tips and pension contributions for staff. 'It was a living nightmare and it weighed heavily on me,' he said. 'At the same time, I was facing big personal challenges, which led to a mental breakdown the middle of last year. I couldn't function. And when your business needs you 24/7, everything starts falling fast.' For Ryan, running the three Loaf MCRs was not all 'Instagrammable moments', but a lot of 'stress, silence and sacrifice'. 'Still, I'm proud. Of the joy we spread. Of the community we built. And of myself – for knowing when to stop and look after mine and my team's health,' he added. 'To my loafly team: you were the heart of this. Thank you for everything. To our suppliers, landlords, partners, and customers – thank you for believing in Loaf. 'Our final day is April 30. If you want one more mini loaf or just a goodbye hug, we'd loaf to see you.' Instagram users said they'd be there. 'We came last year for my birthday and adored it! We will be back all the way from Hull on Monday for one last loaf as it's my birthday!' wrote Charlotte Swann. Charlotte added: 'Sorry to hear this! Super little place and a loss to Manchester!' Between the pandemic and the years-long cost-of-living crisis, several bakery chains, including Oddie's, have been forced to shutter. One in four British bakery businesses is now loss-making, analytic firm Plimsoll's found, with two in 10 financially at risk. More Trending With Loaf MCR's closure tomorrow, Aiden says the future is uncertain. 'As for what's next… who knows?' he said. 'For now, we rest. Thank you for being part of our story. I'll carry it with me, always.' A version of this article was originally published on April 8, 2025 Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Full list and dates of 17 Morrisons stores closing imminently MORE: Full list of 108 Post Office branches set to change ownership MORE: Woman died after 'speeding away from police and crashing into parked car'
Sunday World
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
DeLorean owner says fascination with famous car remains as figures reveal only 303 left on UK roads
The cars – immortalised by the Back To The Future film franchise four decades ago – are known for their gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork and have become a collector's item. Robert Lamrock beside a DMC12 on the first floor of Selfridge's in London. A Northern Irish owner of the famous DeLorean car has said the public's love of the iconic vehicle still continues, despite new figures showing just over 300 remain on UK roads. The cars – immortalised by the Back To The Future film franchise four decades ago – are known for their gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork and have become a collector's item. Around 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12s rolled off the DeLorean Motor Company assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, in 1981. The company collapsed into insolvency the following year. John DeLorean was then charged with drug trafficking in October 1982, but a jury found him not guilty in 1984, although his reputation suffered badly. Currently, some 303 DeLoreans are taxed for use on public roads in the UK, according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures obtained by online auction platform Collecting Cars. Robert Lamrock beside a DMC12 on the first floor of Selfridge's in London. However, Robert Lamrock, 71, of the DeLorean Owners Association, maintains that the car is still popular with the public in Northern Ireland. 'I take my car out and people are flashing their lights or tooting their horn at you,' he told the Belfast Telegraph. 'I've been to car shows where there's been Ferraris and Lamborghinis and the people all flock over to the the the DeLorean, because it's unique.' He said he still senses a local 'pride' in the DeLorean in Northern Ireland, and credits the controversial owner with having the vision build the car how and where he did. The iconic Delorean (Credit: Russell Pritchard / Presseye) 'John, despite all his errors, was a genius. The car was built around the needs and desires of the consumer, not the corporation. 'They were slightly too ambitious, in terms of trying to produce 20-30,000 when they were starting up. 'It was just unfortunate that there was a recession in 1981/82 and everything went pear-shaped.' Back To The Future – which opened in cinemas in the summer of 1985 – catapulted DeLoreans into the public consciousness. In the film, eccentric scientist Dr Emmett 'Doc' Brown creates a time machine from a modified DeLorean, using plutonium to power a fictional gadget called a flux capacitor which allows time travel once the car reaches 88mph. Mr Lamrock says that DeLorean owners have 'not a thing' that unites them other than being 'passionate about the car.' 'There's no common theme. There's doctors, dentists, engineers. As time has gone on, the car has become much more expensive, so you don't find too many young kids that can afford it.' DeLoreans at Stormont Thinking about the appeal of the DeLorean, he also says: 'If you've got the money, you can put a Flux Capacitor on it and pretend you're Doc Brown and Marty McFly.' According to the figures released, a further 114 of the cars have a statutory off road notification, meaning they are likely to be gathering dust in garages. Collecting Cars estimates a fully restored version could fetch more than £80,000 at auction. It has sold just two DeLoreans since it began trading in most recent sold for £56,000 in 2022. Collecting Cars chief executive Edward Lovett said: 'The DeLorean is an icon of pop culture which is still turning heads after all these years. 'A combination of their scarcity and the Back To The Future phenomenon has pushed prices higher than people might imagine. 'Back in 1981, the sticker price was around £18,000, making it more expensive than a Porsche 911. 'Today, a fully restored model treated to a film car replica conversion could attract bids in excess of £80,000.'
