Twentyman's artisan pizzeria and bakery adapts to challenges in Leigh

Launching at the top end of Bradshawgate in 2018, Twentyman's opened as an up-market pizzeria and bakery that serves top-quality food from fresh and traditional ingredients.

With its rustic interior and Neapolitan-style pizzas, Twentymans proved to be a hit with residents and had queues down Bradshawgate during the pandemic, but things have been much more difficult for the business of late.

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An example of Twentyman's Neapolitan-style pizzas (Image: Twentyman's)

Andrew, who launched the business in his hometown after working in bakeries across Europe, said: "It's all up and down at the moment, with no set patterns. We have busy periods, possibly around paydays, and then quiet patches.

"The cost of living crisis has impacted us because we commit to very unique ingredients from Italy, so some of our food products have doubled in price.

"Then you have electricity bills going up and we have had staff retention issues too. You can't change it so we have just had to soak it up and increase prices in some areas."

Artisan bakery products are also a focus (Image: Twentyman's)

While other businesses struggled during the stop-start periods of the pandemic, this turned out to be a particularly fruitful period for Twentymans as residents were staying local and could pick up a taste of Italy right from the centre of Leigh.

As life has returned to normality, however, this is where the business has struggled with retaining staff members or attracting customers who prefer to travel to neighbouring towns or cities.

With the cost of living crisis accentuating the business' problems, the Twentymans team has been forced to increase the price of certain items, shorten its opening hours, and slim down its menu in order to keep their heads above water.

Upstairs at Twentyman's (Image: Leigh Journal)

Facing such problems, Andrew, who is also a member of the Leigh Means Business group, said that further investment in Leigh town centre is vital to ensure the survival of venues like Twentyman's while also allowing for the wider night-time economy to thrive.

Andrew added: "The night time economy needs to be looked at, to see what is required and find different locations that can be geared towards this.

"There has been investment in Tyldesley and Atherton along the busway, but it hasn't reached Leigh yet.

"If there were more venues like this, more people would come to Leigh for a night out, so it needs investment in the right places and at the right time."

Inside the Bradshawgate business (Image: Leigh Journal)

Leigh Means Business, which is a collaboration of local business owners and residents, have previously worked alongside Salford University to look into issues surrounding the night time economy in Leigh.

Its report called for an integrated approach from businesses, community groups, and the local authority to make the town centre a safer and more attractive place to both residents and investors.

Wigan Council also formed the Leigh Innovation Board in February, with representatives from the local authority, community groups and local businesses, to also drive forward a long-term vision for the regeneration of the town centre.