The Big Bakes
The Big Manchester Bakes is a vibrant immersive baking venue designed by Ellis Design Studio. Inspired by British countryside romance and mid‑century American optimism, the space blends nostalgia, colour and creativity to deliver a joyful, social and memorable competitive baking experience.
A vibrant, personality‑rich baking experience inspired by British countryside romance and mid‑century American optimism.
The Big Bakes is a joyful and immersive hospitality venue that reimagines competitive baking as a vibrant social experience. Inspired by the romance of the British countryside and the optimism of mid‑century American modernism, the venue blends nostalgia, colour and creativity to create a warm, welcoming environment where guests can discover the fun and communal spirit of baking.
The Big Bakes offers an award‑winning 90‑minute baking experience inside a fully equipped marquee‑style tent, surrounded by a dynamic, personality‑rich interior that shifts in tone throughout the day — bright and energetic for daytime sessions, warm and atmospheric as evening approaches.
A Summer’s Day in a Baking Marquee
The interior evokes the feeling of a summer’s day spent in and around a baking marquee. Guests step into a venue filled with colour, warmth and nostalgic charm, designed to encourage lingering and pre/post bake socialising.
The baking tent itself is fully equipped for competitive baking, while the surrounding spaces create a seamless journey from hands‑on activity to relaxed social enjoyment.
A Mid‑Century Americana Cocktail Bar
At the heart of the venue sits a mid‑century Americana‑inspired cocktail bar — a social anchor that invites guests to stay long after their bake is complete. Its warm materials, soft lighting and vintage‑inflected detailing create a sense of relaxed conviviality, transforming the venue from daytime workshop to nighttime hangout.
Celebrating Baking Pioneers
The Big Manchester Bakes pays homage to the colourful eccentricity of pioneering British TV chefs of the 1950s and ’60s, such as Fanny Craddock, Marguerite Patten and Phillip Harben. These trailblazers introduced baking as a joyful pastime to households across the UK, inspiring a generation of home cooks.
The design for the Manchester venue celebrates Manchester’s own baking pioneer Elizabeth Raffald (1733–1781), whose influence helped shape the city’s culinary heritage. Her spirit of creativity and innovation is woven into the venue’s narrative.
A Playful, Textured & Nostalgic Interior
The interior design features a curated mix of warm, tactile materials, vintage‑inspired graphics, nostalgic colour palettes, playful patterns and textures and Mid‑century modern references.
These elements create an environment that feels both familiar and fresh — a space that celebrates the joy, creativity and communal energy of baking.
A Joyful, Accessible & Memorable Experience
The design for The Big Bakes venues embody the core values of The Big Bakes brand: fun, accessibility, surprise and memorable shared experiences. The Studio has crafted a venue that feels vibrant, personality‑rich and full of charm — a place where guests can bake, laugh, connect and enjoy a uniquely immersive hospitality experience.
