We know him now as the mega star who continued his success way beyond One Direction, selling out stadiums all over the world night after night, dabbling in Hollywood, admired by legends, but the singer had humble beginnings, not too far from Manchester. We are huge Harry Styles fans here at Secret Manchester, therefore we know he used to work at a bakery in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.
But for those not so clued up, Harry worked at the W. Mandeville Bakery when he was 14 years old, having been brought up in the village. Known for Treating People With Kindness, the village of Holmes Chapel welcomes visitors with the sights of the beautiful St Luke’s Church, independent shops and cafes lining the high street, and an array of quaint, historical brick homes. Nestled amongst these sights stands W. Mandeville Bakery, where Harry Styles fans flock to in their masses.
You might have thought this would be a huge inconvenience for this small corner of Cheshire, but in fact the bakery welcomes Styles fans with a huge banner of Harry from his time there, ready to have visitors pose for a photo – perhaps a Sign of the Times? Proud of their status as the former workplace of one of the most famous musicians in the world right now, their slogan below reads “People come from miles and miles for craft baking and Harry Styles”… we’d say they’re pretty happy for the footfall!
Harry’s new waxwork, making its way to Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, was also unveiled in the bakery for old time’s sake, with plenty of fans turning up to welcome this new version of Harry to the world. Dressed in characteristic bright orange and a feather boa, the wax Harry took pride of place where the real one once spent his Sundays, and W. Mandeville loved every second.
Getting there is fairly simple, as two trains per hour go from Manchester Piccadilly into Holmes Chapel, taking around 40 minutes with the local stops between. Although the reason for many of the visits to W. Mandeville Bakery are Styles-related, the bakery does offer some great produce to nibble on whilst you walk in Harry’s footsteps, including pastries, bread, and whole range of homemade cakes.
There are also some great walking routes around Holmes Chapel, including passing by the Grade II listed Twemlow Viaduct, built in the early 1840s, which was the backdrop to a portion of the One Direction film This Is Us in 2013, where Harry talks about his childhood growing up in the village.
The Holmes Chapel Parternship have also provided a map of the safest route, hitting all the Harry sights. They love welcoming fans and visitors, and want to keep us safe whilst fangirling – the map and further information can be found here.
So whether you’re a fan, or just like the novelty, why not give Holmes Chapel a visit and grab something delicious and Golden from W. Mandeville Bakery? It’s truly the Cherry on top, as certified by Harry Styles.
📍 Find W. Mandeville Bakery at 2 Macclesfield Rd, Holmes Chapel, Crewe, CW4 7NE.