Legendary Black Country bakery returns

Firkins' owner Rob Green said the demand on its first day had been "phenomenal"

A 155-year-old bakery in West Bromwich has returned to the high street after a decade, drawing a big queue of eager customers on its opening day.

Famous for its traditional cakes and pastries, Firkins saw a brisk trade within minutes of reopening on Wednesday, with lemon iced buns, bread pudding and pineapple tarts flying off the shelves.

The bakery, which was originally founded in 1870, shut its doors 10 years ago and has reopened in Sandwell Council's new indoor market.

Owner Rob Green described the response as "phenomenal".

The queue for Firkins on its reopening day wrapped right around the new indoor market

The bakery was founded by Mary Firkin in Carters Green and became known for its award-winning pork pies before expanding to 22 stores across the West Midlands.

Mr Green said everyone in the queue was patient as the bakery ironed out "teething problems" with its new payment system.

"We might be an old company, but we've still got to have technology to put the payments through," he said.

The technical hiccups did not stop customers from snapping up old favourites in bulk.

"They're not just buying in ones and twos - they're buying in 10s, 20s, and they're buying for everyone else that can't get to the queue," said Mr Green.

"People wanted us back. They're coming to support us today and to try us out," he added.

"Thankfully 100% [of customers] so far have said it's good. I'm really chuffed with that. Hopefully this is the start of many good things."

The bakery closed in 2015 due to a lack of sales

Many remember the bakery as a staple of community life, with memories tied to its crusty cobs, pork pies and cakes.

Phillip Stephens from Tipton said: "It was all good food; they cooked all their own stuff, and it was really tasty.

"They were best known for cakes, and my favourite was Eccles.

"It'll be interesting to see if they've kept things the same or changed any of their old recipes, but hopefully the Eccles cakes are still there."

Phillip Stephens says he hopes the Eccles cakes would still be the same

Anne Ward from Walsall said the bakery had been missed.

"I grew up with Firkins. I've got dementia, and I can't remember a lot, but as a kid I loved the cakes.

"I used to love a vanilla slice. When we come up to West Bromwich again, we'll definitely have a look to see what the bakery has got."

Kathleen and Graham Clarke got their wedding cake from Firkins

Kathleen Clarke from Tipton shared her memories of the bakery where she got her wedding cake: "We thought the cake was coming from the shop we ordered everything else from, but when we went to pick it up the day before the wedding, it wasn't there.

"They made us a new one, but on the morning of the wedding my sister called to say the bakery had it, so we ended up with two cakes, and they didn't even charge us for the original one.

"We had so much in the end that we were giving it away left, right and centre."

Firkins' stores closed in 2015 after being hit by a lack of new sales, leading to the loss of 104 jobs in the West Midlands.

The brand and certain assets were then taken over by the current owners, who refocused as a cake manufacturer and ingredient wholesaler.