Harwoods Patisserie opens in Westhoughton’s Provenance Food Hall

Andrew Harwood, from Heaton, who made it to the finals in Bake Off: The Professionals, set up Harwoods Patisserie in Standish, Wigan, with his wife Sarah in 2020.

Following the couple's huge success in Standish, Andrew has now opened a new counter at the Provenance Food Hall, Café & Tea Rooms, in Westhoughton.

And just a couple of days since opening on Tuesday March 5, the response has already been ‘amazing’.

Andrew said: “We feel great since it has opened. It was the first day of opening on Tuesday and it was busy.

“We had an overwhelming support which was a surprise because it isn’t our local area around here I guess.

“But it seems that we had a lot of customers that lived in Westhoughton anyway that were travelling to our Standish shop, so yes the support has been amazing.

“All the local groups in Bolton and Westhoughton have been sharing our business and have given us their support, so we feel really loved.

Harwoods Patisserie stall inside Provenance Food Hall (Image: Harwoods Patisserie)“On the opening day we had more than 100 customers come to see us, we did about 150 large desserts and the macarons were very popular as well.

“Customers will have a variety to choose from. We will always have four to five French patisserie style desserts, macarons, and hand-made chocolates available.”

Andrew said when Paul Rogers, the owner of Provenance Food Hall, contacted himself and Sarah asking if they would open a stall, they were over the moon.

He said: “I am originally from Bolton, and we always had a vision to go back in that direction anyway whether it be sort of where I was from or somewhere in the area.

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“But Paul Rodgers, who purchased Provenance not long ago, we have known him from supplying his restaurant, Home in Buckshaw Village, he gave us a call and said would you think about putting a Harwoods in the food hall.

“He has got great plans for the place, he has put a cheese counter in there, there is already a popular butchers, Hive Bakehouse is going in there as well at the weekend, so it is a bustling nice little place now with lots of different artisan bakers and small businesses as well.

“Paul had this dream of doing it so when he asked us we were over the moon.”

Andrew said people are already asking if more patisseries will be opening in other areas in the future.

The hand-made chocolates look incredible (Image: Harwoods Patisserie)Looking at the business prospects in the near future, Andrew said: “For the short future we want to look after our Standish shop and Westhoughton shop, but people are already asking us if we would move into Horwich too.

“You never know for the future, but I think for the near future we just want to look after the people that are dedicated to us and the loyal customers and make sure that our products are as good as they want it to be, and we want it to be as well.”

The French style patisserie specialises in handmade desserts, chocolates, as well as other products they stock on the shelves, including seasonal items like Easter eggs.

Provenance Food Hall is open from 8am but Harwoods Patisserie will be open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm.

Cllr David Wilkinson said he wishes the business well.

He said: “Another new business has opened in Westhoughton.

“In Westhoughton we are fortunate that so many people have taken the opportunity to open up their businesses in the town.

“We have a Main Street where buildings are nearly fully occupied and when they become vacant are taken up very quickly.

“We wish Harwoods Patisserie well.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.