Well folks, thanks to those of you that have been supporting our new winter menu of Illy Coffees, Hot Chocolate and Teas and our sweet treats - cupcakes, brownies, cookies and muffins. If you are rushing for a bus or train we can do take away coffees etc in a flash and you could even take a cupcake with you too to nibble on!
We now have extra seating in the back to make your experience at The Milk Bar more comfortable so bring along your family and/or friends and chill over a milkshake or hot drink whilst listening to the fifties music from our Juke Box.
Look out this next week for our Winter Warmers and Special Offers as we are introducing our HOT TOP TEN and free offers at The Milk Bar and you will not be disappointed .... we've been sampling the best hot milk shakes from our menu and they are scrummy!
Get signed up as a fan and stay in touch, you are all special because without YOU, our loyal customers, we wouldn't be able to spread the milkshake word! Watch this space for more news about The Milk Bar plans for 2010.
Just letting you know what is happening for half term week and Halloween. Our Halloween specials are:
GHOST TOWN - white chocolate and cream soda milkshake
WITCH'S CAULDRON - black jacks and popping candy milkshake
TRICK OR TREAT - fresh apple milkshake with a trick in the bottom of the milkshake!
Saturday 31 IOctober, Halloween, we launch our hot drinks menu with fifties inspired cupcakes and sweet treats!
We are delighted to let you know that we have found a local baker to make all our special sweet treats, and yes she really is called Kath Baker!
Kath was delighted to be given the challenge of developing a range of gorgeous fifties inspired cupcakes, brownies, muffins and cookies to compliment the wonderful array of goodies already available at The Milk Bar, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge.
Working closely together, we chose six of the most popular flavours from our milkshake menu to create a unique range of fifties inspired cupcakes. A cupcake is a treat, its something special; it’s a small indulgence to enjoy. If you are going to treat yourself, we say have a really good cupcake handmade locally in Hebden Bridge using quality ingredients - Kath uses organic flour, sugar and eggs at all times.
Introducing our shimmering sherbet lemon, sparkly strawberry marshmallow and Jelly Baby cupcakes alongside our melting Mint Aero, beautiful Bounty and tempting Terry’s Chocolate Orange cupcakes. Which is your favourite flavour? Whether your passion is a classic vanilla cupcake, an indulgent chocolate treat or something more fruity The Milk Bar is certain your taste buds will be tickled with our cupcake menu. We think anytime is a good time for cupcakes so make it an everyday treat, celebrate an occasion, give as a gift or have a cupcake party!
Other treats from Kath Baker at the Milk Bar include her freshly baked chocolate chip or blueberry muffins, gooey chocolate brownies or large American style cookies, stuffed full of smarties. Also look out for special seasonal goodies throughout the year - Bonfire Night is only the week after so out specials will be themed around this.
Both Kath Baker and The Milk Bar team hope that you love these sweet treats and that they make you smile as much as they did us. Happy scoffing and remember, support your local baker and try our cupcakes at The Milk Bar – we think you’ll love them and share our passion.
Exciting news from The Milk Bar ... but not yet!! Please do keep checking in here for this news as it will be posted very soon!! We are also creating a Facebook Fan page and will be keeping you updated more regularly. The only reason this has not been done sooner, quite frankly, is that we have been too busy so thank you to all our loyal customers for making this journey so incredibly exciting.
Any suggestions from those of you who have already experienced The Milk Bar in Hebden Bridge greatly appreciated - constructive criticism will be dealt with, abusive comments will not!
New Specials Menu Board now up and The Halloween Specials and Bonfire Specials will just be amazing.
Sorry it has been a bit quiet lately on this blog - just not enough hours in the day to be honest! The Milk Bar has been so busy since opening it's doors at the beginning of May that there has not been enough time to keep you posted.
Anyway, The Yorkshire Post did a fantastic article on us just recently and this is the link for you to check it out - thank you to Sharon and her photographer.
New Facebook fan club coming soon so watch out for that folks.
Bye for now.
Wednesday 6 May 2009
My camera broke on a recent trip to Benidorm so relying on mates sending images through! Here is one of Becki with two of TEAM MILK BAR, more to follow as they arrive.
The opening weekend was mad yet just amazing. TEAM MILK BAR just worked their little ankle sox off and locals and visitors alike were very complimentary about the milkshakes, the ice-creams, the smoothies, the staff, the uniforms, the branding ... in fact just about everything!
Really pleased that gap in Hebden Bridge for our 'young' has now been filled. This is going to be a great 'hangout' for our 'young' and somewhere different to visit - let's raise a milkshake to The Milk Bar being on Bridge Gate for many years to come. xXx
Well, my body wanted to sleep last night but my mind wouldn't let it so I looked exhausted before we even opened the door at 10am!! The first 50 people through the door got a FREE milkshake and by 10am there were nearly 60 people waiting so a few disappointed faces ... but not for long when they saw the menu!
It's been a long but rewarding day and Team Milk Bar all did a FANTASTIC job keeping customers happy and moving along nicely so they didn't have to queue for too long. So, many thanks to Libby, Heidi, Leah, Kerry and Chantelle for an outstanding job on their first day and ... Kloe ... you have all this to come tomorrow - hope the family wedding was just brilliant!
Two more sleeps and then we open, hurrah! There is a real buzz around Hebden Bridge about The Milk Bar but they won't know what's hit them when we open those doors and they see everything...the decor, the juke box, the pink Smeg fridge, the retro ice-cream freezer, the girls ... but most of all ... THE MENU!!
Make sure you hop along to Hebden Bridge this weekend to try one of the many different flavours of milk shakes on offer ... you won't be disappointed!
Another long, long day - only got home an hour ago - but it is all so worth it!
Staff turned up today to train and they were all amazed at how quickly The Milk Bar transformation had taken place compared to an empty shell last Monday at the interviews! It was really great to see and feel their enthusiasm and confirm that the right people were chosen for the job - great individuals who will work well together and that is what it is all about - there is no' i' in 'team'!
Not much else left to do except source the soya ice-cream at the right price, finish a little bit of painting and stock up the cupboards. Then the whole place will need a good clean down Friday ready for the launch.
Just a little note - if anyone reading this knows, or is, a member of a scooter club then why don't you all take a trip out on your scooters, in full gear of course, to Hebden Bridge on Saturday and come to the launch - it would make a great picture if the press turn up!
Countdown to opening now and keeping you informed of what each day is bringing as it unfolds - we are on track and surprisingly everything has gone well so far - no-one has let us down with delivery dates.
Today most of the touching up with the paining was finished ready for the menu board arriving tomorrow. This will be really exciting seeing this fixed up on the wall and can't wait for the locals and visitors to see what's on offer...and Team Milk Bar too as they won't see it until training day Tuesday!
All the appliances arrived on time last week and are installed which include a great blue retro ice-cream freezer for the ice-cream parlour and a pink Smeg fridge for the milkshake area.
Blenders will arrive tomorrow ready for the training and also the uniforms.
Fantastic news, we have the best team possible for The Milk Bar and there is so much enthusiasm between them you can't fail to put a smile on your face should you visit. All of them would have been quite comfortable in Pink Ladies outfits!! Maybe this is something we shall have to introduce at a later date so watch this space!
Counting the days till opening and using my daughter's words ... there are 9 sleeps!!
What a long day yesterday was! It had its highs and it had its lows so we were ready to put our feet up when we returned home in the evening and enjoy the last of the sunshine with a glass of wine, a cheeseboard and olives! Some decisions have already been made as two candidates were shining examples of what The Milk Bar is all about - so well done you two (you know who you are and I hope you both celebrated last night too!).
We are struggling with the other four as there were six other strong characters and today we have to let the right 4 know they too are on board for this great journey. What a journey it will be too as there is such a buzz around town already about our opening so I am posting up the flyer again for you - just in case you haven't seen it yet!
Hebden Bridge is a great town full of many independent shops and cafes and attracts visitors from far and wide. As a town we constantly appear in top ten lists of places to visit and this doesn't surprise me in the slightest as there is so much to offer locals and visitors alike. There is really no need to visit the concrete jungles to find that perfect gift or treat yourself to something special as it is all here in this beautiful little town nestled in a creative valley surrounded by hills, woodland and beautiful scenery - Hebden Bridge is unique. If you haven't yet visited, you must do so soon! I Heard It Through The Grapevine that something new is arriving in Hebden Bridge Saturday 2nd May and it is something that Hebden Bridge does not currently have believe it or not! Everything else is covered in this small town but THE MILK BAR is Something Else! Never mind the Starbucks! Paul and Alison Bartram believe that milkshake is the beverage of the future. They believe this unusual mix of 21st century milkshake and a dose of fifties nostaligia is just what's needed to bring a boost to cafe culture in Calderdale. So, Be Bop A Lula make sure you are in Hebden Bridge for the Grand Opening of THE MILK BAR Saturday 2nd May, 10am - there's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On. First 50 people through the door can choose a free milkshake from a menu of over 100 flavours - All Shook Up! No more Summertime Blues as there are Three Steps To Heaven when you step inside THE MILK BAR to get The Sweetest Feeling when you're Half Way To Paradise with your favourite Milkshake. At the back of THE MILK BAR there is an Ice-Cream Parlour serving the best local ice-cream and real fruit smoothies if milk just ain't your thing! It's Now Or Never so Shake, Rattle and Roll your way down to Bridge Gate on 2nd May for 10am - see you there!
Phew, 2 weeks to go and it is so, so tight! Staff sorted next week and trained the week after, uniforms arriving, ice cream on its way,milk bottles and flying saucers (along with another 100 plus fillings) to buy. branded cups arriving with only moments to spare and no time to book any entertainment! Note to self, must buy new 50s frock and white ankle sox!!
Don't forget folks, we open at 10am 2nd May and the first 50 people through the door can choose a free milkshake from our extensive menu so put this date in your diary and see you in a fortnight!
Well, what a HUGE response to the advert for staff which was only displayed in the window for 7 days! Now sifting through to get the interviews sorted so that we can find the right team for The Milk Bar and start training. Mmmm, training, such good fun when you are working with ice cream! Fingers crossed then that we find outgoing and reliable staff that can make The Milk Bar just THE place to visit in Hebden Bridge.
With only 4 weeks until opening the plasterers have only just finished so time is not on our side but we WILL be open on 2nd May even if we work through the night! Thankfully we have lots of friends on standby offering their services for a pint and a pizza or as one friend puts it ... let's trade services, a cow for a sheep, or I'll clean your staff area if you do my ironing! Oh the world would be a better place if we all adopted this attitude instead of expecting material things for our offerings.
We don't have a camera at the moment which is a real shame as I want to take some 'before' pictures to post here to show our journey. hopefully we can borrow one soon so check in again to keep updated.
It's that time already! Hunting for the right staff can be exhausting so we are going to enlist the help of Facebook to post the link for people to apply. Lots of hours available so all you need to do is email themilkbar@btinternet.com for an application form and one will be sent right back to you. The right staff will make The Milk Bar the place to be seen in and attract lots of visitors to Hebden Bridge so if you feel this is a place you would like to work in then let us know.
Well folks, The Milk Bar started as a little seed over 12 months ago and it is now starting to grow as premises have been found on Bridge Gate in Hebden Bridge.
A gap was spotted in Hebden Bridge sometime ago for a themed take away not serving coffee and so the seed was sown.
Fast forward to 2009 and plans are now well under way to turn this great idea into reality. The Milk Bar will be different to anything else Hebden Bridge already has to offer its many visitors and will serve milkshakes ... with a difference. To compliment these milkshakes The Milk Bar will also sell fruit smoothies and wonderful ice-cream in a fantastic, fifties style parlour!
Keep checking in for updates about how we are getting on and also for the Grand Opening date when there will be special promotions for the first lucky people through the door.
The Milk Bar is a premier destination for all situated in the beautiful West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge. Hebden Bridge is a great town full of many independent shops and cafes and attracts visitors from far and wide. As a town we constantly appear in top ten lists of places to visit and this isn’t a surprise in the slightest as there is so much to offer locals and visitors alike. The Milk Bar is an amazing American style 50s café bar that blends together all sorts of weird and wonderful ingredients to make the perfect Milkshake! With over 150 different lip smacking flavours (not including the incredible, ever-changing specials board) it's guaranteed to deliver delicious Milkshakes every time. Alongside our milkshake menu we also serve real dairy ice-cream in waffle cones, hot drinks, fifties inspired cupcakes and sweet treats all baked locally in Hebden Bridge by our very own Kath Baker! If you haven't yet visited, you must do so soon! Never mind the Starbucks! The Milk Bar on Bridge Gate in Hebden Bridge is an unusual mix of 21st century milkshake and a dose of fifties nostaligia - just what's needed to bring a boost to cafe culture in Calderdale.
