Joe Hartley (potter), Rosie Wilkes (baker) and Sam Buckley (owner of Where The Light Gets In, and chef) opened Yellowhammer in May 2021.
Rosie and Sam worked together at Where The Light Gets In, and were both interested in opening a bakery in Stockport, so it seemed natural to open one together. Joe felt it was time for him to move his pottery studio to a larger space; to allow him more scope creatively, and to host workshops.
The front space of 15 Lower Hillgate seemed perfect for the bakery, whilst Joe felt the back would be an ideal venue for his new pottery studio. The restaurant and wine bar elements were added over time, with much help from Tara Proctor (currently at Brico Melbourne) and Beth Hammond (who now runs the fantastic Tawny Stores) - it seemed a shame not to make use of the space in the evenings.
A lot of people ask why we are called ‘Yellowhammer’. We are named for the yellowhammer bird that likes to occupy hedgerows around wheat fields, and the name refers to our aim to support an agriculture that supports wildlife.
The yellowhammer is in decline due to intensive farming practices, such as use of pesticides and removal of hedgerows, so we use flour from small producers who avoid these practices.
Birders remember the call of the Yellowhammer as ‘a little bit of bread and no cheese’, which cemented our decision to call the bakery ‘Yellowhammer”, although we actually love cheese with our bread.
Credits
Photographs by Joe Hartley
Website by Jo Houghton