A treasured Birmingham bakery, The Bread Collection, is poised to return to the city centre after being forced to close its Great Western Arcade location earlier this year. Since 2012, The Bread Collection delighted locals with fresh breads and pastries from its cozy spot on the Colmore Row side of the Victorian arcade in the heart of Birmingham’s business district.
The bakery’s departure came as construction commenced on refurbishing the space above its original unit. Despite the closure, The Bread Collection continued baking in its original premises in Knowle while actively seeking a new city centre location.
Now, progress is underway for The Bread Collection’s highly anticipated reopening in Piccadilly Arcade, just across from Birmingham New Street station. Signage has appeared in the arcade’s vacant unit, signaling the bakery’s return.
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The bakery first captured attention in 2012 when it emerged that owner, French baker Gilles Zidane, is the cousin of football legend Zinedine Zidane. The reopening promises to reunite The Bread Collection with an eclectic mix of Piccadilly Arcade tenants, including Faculty Coffee, Resiliency Tattoo Studio, Shepherds Barbers, Piccadilly Cobbler, Onyx Workshop jewellery, and Clay’s interactive digital clay pigeon shooting bar.
Other businesses in Piccadilly Arcade include Be At One bar, Top Tailor, Brow Box, Boba One, and Piccadilly Opticians, making the arcade a vibrant hub for shoppers and visitors.
While an exact reopening date for the bakery is yet to be announced, construction is actively transforming the space to welcome back this city favourite.
Meanwhile, at Great Western Arcade, refurbishment continues in the upper levels, and nearby North Western Arcade faces potential demolition alongside House of Fraser as plans for new city centre developments move ahead. Public consultations have also begun concerning the future of Martineau Place and surrounding buildings at the top end of High Street, signaling significant changes for Birmingham’s retail landscape.