The Harwood family’s legacy in food dates back over 200 years, from greengrocers and bakers in Bolton to today’s high-end patisserie in Standish, Wigan. Founded in 2018, Harwoods Patisserie is the creation of award-winning Pastry Chef Andrew Harwood, whose culinary experience stems from some of the UK’s finest restaurants and hotels. Together with his wife, Sarah, Andrew has grown Harwoods Patisserie into a celebrated destination for handmade chocolates, macarons, and modern desserts.
Taking a leap of faith
Having begun by selling handmade chocolate products online and on market stalls across the Wigan area, the Harwoods’ business took a leap forward in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic threatened both Andrew’s and Sarah’s careers. Instead of pulling back, they moved forward, investing in their first bricks-and-mortar shop on the High Street in Standish. Despite Andrew’s initial doubts about how delicate French patisserie would be received in Wigan, the community embraced Harwoods wholeheartedly. The shop quickly became a local favourite, offering not only exquisite patisserie but also cookery classes and locally sourced produce.
In 2023, national recognition followed when Andrew and his friend and fellow chef, Raf Perussi, competed in Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals, making it all the way to the final. The exposure on the show was a catalyst for significant growth, sparking a wave of new customers from across the country and helping expand Harwoods’ wholesale supply to high-end hotels and restaurants across the region.
As the business has grown, Harwoods Patisserie has remained committed to nurturing the next generation of pastry chefs. Through a partnership with Wigan & Leigh College, they have been able to hire local apprentices, offering hands-on training in a professional kitchen environment. This initiative allows young people to explore and develop their passion for patisserie, while learning directly from Andrew’s award-winning expertise.
New premises, bigger dreams
With rapid growth came the need for more space, Andrew was operating from two industrial units in addition to the Standish shop. The fragmented setup made day-to-day operations increasingly complex. Andrew and Sarah knew it was time to consolidate their kitchen and retail operations under one roof.
They began searching for suitable premises that could accommodate both a professional kitchen and a spacious retail area. The opportunity to bring everything together in a single, purpose-built location was a game-changer, and when they found the right property, they knew it was the next step in their journey.
But with that came legal complexity, property negotiations, commercial contracts, timelines, and compliance hurdles.
Why Stephensons?
Having had a difficult experience with a previous legal firm, Andrew and Sarah were understandably cautious about choosing a solicitor. It was Andrew’s father-in-law who recommended Stephensons, and after speaking with Commecial Property Partner Chris Graves, their concerns quickly began to ease.
“We said to Chris, ‘Listen, we’re a bit nervous about all this. We’ve done it before and didn’t have a great experience.’ But Chris immediately put us at ease,” Andrew explained. “He was really clear, really precise, no legal jargon, just everything in terms we could understand. It’s worlds apart from what we experienced elsewhere.”
Chris’s calm, honest, and straightforward approach helped guide them through the legal process with confidence. From start to finish, the experience was smooth and reassuring, allowing Andrew and Sarah to focus on what they do best: creating exceptional patisserie.
What’s next for Harwoods?
With the legal groundwork complete, Andrew and Sarah are now focused on the next chapter of their journey. They’ve begun making the necessary planning applications to commence renovations on their new premises, an iconic former bakery known as Gent’s Pies on Pepper Lane in Standish, which served the community for over 70 years. The Harwoods hope to honour that legacy while bringing their own modern twist to the space. If all goes to plan, they aim to be fully operational in the new location by March 2026, marking an exciting new era for Harwoods Patisserie.
Contact Stephensons
To discuss your commercial property needs, contact Stephensons’ expert team today and find out how we can support your next move. Call us on 0161 696 6174 or complete our online enquiry form.