High Street treat as Batter & Patter move into The Smithy

Jane Gordon with some of Batter & Patter’s great cakes in The Smithy

A specialist bakery has moved into its first High Street home - and is bringing other traders with them.

Batter & Patter, which makes only gluten, wheat and dairy-free cakes, has started selling its products from Midsteeple Quarter-owned building The Smithy.

Jane Gordon, one of the bakers behind the enterprise, has been using the space as a pop-up shop for several months. They are now looking to take their involvement to the next level.

“While people offer gluten-free products, they’re not always suitable for celiacs. Ours are - and we’ve been delighted by the way people have got behind us,” Jane said.

But Batter & Patter will not be alone in the building and are working to create a local marketplace hub.

As they have during their pop-up store time, they will have other small local traders join them, creating an opportunity to showcase the skills and products in the town centre as a local marketplace.

Jane explained: “As we spoke with the team at Midsteeple Quarter about what we might be able to do, it became clear that we could bring people in with us.

“We’re really excited about it, both for our own individual business, but also for other people - and that might often be people for whom a small business is also their hobby.

“We really hope that people will enjoy having even greater variety on the High Street and get behind what we’re hoping to achieve.”

Among the local enterprises with whom Batter & Patter is working are those selling beauty products, diecast models, football memorabilia, crafting, crystals and photography.

Midsteeple Quarter enterprise manager Jakob Kaye said: “One of our main aims as a community benefit society is to provide a platform for local enterprises to grow and enjoy the use of affordable spaces on Dumfries High Street.

“Working with Batter & Patter and the others they are collaborating with allows exactly that to happen in a prime position in one of our community-owned buildings.

“We are delighted to be working with them.”

Businesses, social enterprises and local organisations interested in finding out more about community-owned spaces available for use in Midsteeple Quarter  can contact Jakob by emailing enterprise@midsteeplequarter.org.