Forge Bakehouse is to launch a Kickstarter campaign to expand its pastry area.

The Sheffield-based bakery and café is hoping to raise £25,000 through Kickstarter to fund a new building, which will expand its pastry area, currently housed in a converted concrete garage, separate to the main bakery building.

The funding from the campaign, along with some self-funding, will enable construction of a new building adjacent to the current one, which will have insulated walls and comprise a temperature-controlled prep room, a walk-in chiller and a walk-in freezer. 

The campaign will run for 30 days from Monday 9 September and the business will be rewarding donations for set amounts. For example, a £10 donation will receive an enamel pin designed by Lizzie Fortnum, £35 will receive 10 loaves, £300 will have a loaf of bread named after them for a year and £5,000 will get someone a loaf of bread every day for the rest of their life. 

Should the campaign exceed its £25,000 target, founder Martha Brown would like to replace the oven.

“If we reach our target for our extension, we’d really love to continue finding funds to replace our oven, either second-hand or new, before it decides for us when it’s time. New ovens can cost £25,000-plus, getting anywhere close to half to that would be magical,” said Brown.