Through our Meet the Tenant feature we hope you’re seeing the wide variety of businesses that partner with us here at the Millfields Trust. In previous blogs, we’ve introduced you to Social Enterprise Mark CIC as well as Carlton Cleaning but today we’d like to introduce the The Hot Buns Bakery.
What is your name, company, and how long have you been in business?
Hi! I’m Daisy and I have just opened The Hot Buns Bakery. This is my first ever business, although I have thought about starting various different businesses over the years. It’s been just under a year in the making and I’m really pleased that all that hard work has paid off and I’ve got this little place to call my own.
Can you tell us a little bit about The Hot Buns Bakery?
The Hot Buns Bakery is a small, plant based café/bakery, providing great coffee, delicious cakes, freshly baked bread, as well as a changing hot and cold food menu! We are environmentally conscious and promote sustainability, with compostable takeaway containers and money off if you bring your own reusable one! Alongside all the day to day options, we also provide small scale catering and fantastic cakes for all occasions!
When and why did you get a unit in the Millfields Trust?
I started renting the unit in November, after the coaches at Plymouth Performance Gym convinced me to take over the place (obviously impressed by the cakes I would always take in)! It wasn’t until March that I could finally open, after securing a loan and getting a brand new, gorgeous, kitchen fitted.
What does an average day look like for you? What happens?
I usually get in between 6.30-7.30am to start the food prep and baking, ready for an 8am open. It’s quiet around the time which gives me an opportunity to make lots of delicious food. We then make sure lunch is ready for around 11.30am and that’s when the customers start pouring in. Once the rush is over, we start to tidy up and begin getting things shut down, ready for the close at 3pm. Then it takes about an hour to do a good clean, and make sure it’s all set for the next day!
What types of challenges has your business faced in the past, present and possibly in the future?
The biggest challenge that the bakery will face is making sure people know we are here and open. It’s hidden from the general public, and even within the site it can be easy to miss. But we’ve got flyers and posters on the way to help spread the word, making sure people know that we’re worth visiting!
If you could have one thing right now for your business, what would it be?
A second chef! Something that will come with time, and would make a huge difference to how much time I need to spend cooking over doing the admin.
Plans for 2023?
Just to keep this place running and grow it into a successful, thriving, café!
What’s the best business advice you have ever received?
I’ve received so much business advice over the years, I don’t think there is any one piece that stands out as the best. It’s just about enjoying the process and working smarter not harder. If you’re not enjoying or end up burning yourself out then it’s never going to work in the long run.
What do you love about Stonehouse?
The flowers are gorgeous! But also the community is really lovely. I’m getting to know the same people who are coming in each day and it’s really nice to hear what they’re up to.
What do you love about being a business in Plymouth?
Being able to close up and go for a wild swim the Devil’s Point!
Anything else you would like to mention?
Only that I am so grateful to all of the people who have supported the business so far. It’s a real struggle starting a place like this during the current economic climate, and every custom helps!
Please include any links, contact details, events, etc or anything else you think is relevant
It’s important to be following us on Instagram and Facebook because it’s where we post the menus and put updates about opening/closing times, and there are occasionally promotions that you won’t want to miss out on.
A website is on the way, but if you need to contact the business for any catering, or just questions, then my email is thehotbunsbakery@aol.com and my number is 07717600324.
If you’re a business in need of office space, light industrial units, or possibly just a meeting room, head over to Our Premises today. If you already know exactly what you need then please don’t hesitate to contact the team.