Penny's Pantry

The window of a cafe containing a menu and a "5" food hygiene rating sticker

a deli fridge containing a variety of sandwich fillings in sealed tubs at the front of the lower shelf. To the rear of the lower shelf on the left are some small pies and to the right are some larger sized pies. On the upper shelf there is a variety of chocolate bars. On the top left of the fridge there is a yellow sign and on the right is a bright green sign with promotion details and product details

Penny's Pantry in Delph is much more than your average café.

While owner, Penny Thorneycroft, serves up traditional cooked breakfasts and comforting lunchtime favourites using quality ingredients, the business is steadily evolving into a true local food destination. Based on Saddleworth Business Centre, Penny's Pantry also offers outside catering, hosts charity events and boasts an ever-expanding deli stocked with carefully selected speciality products.

Penny is no stranger to the catering industry, having built up 28 years of professional experience in a busy café environment before deciding to take the plunge and open a business of her own in 2026. What started as a café is quickly growing and diversifying, with an impressive deli range featuring Penny's own jams, marmalades and chutneys alongside cured meats, artisan cheeses, speciality oils, pasta and locally made pies.

As an experienced chef, Penny was already familiar with food safety requirements and the controls needed to comply with legislation. However, having previously worked for a large organisation with established food safety management systems, she wanted to ensure she had everything in place when setting up and running her own business.

That's where Oldham Council's Business Compliance Support Officer, Martine, was able to help. Martine visited the premises and spent time with Penny, guiding her through the Safer Food Better Business pack and helping her understand what to expect from a food hygiene inspection. The visit also provided an opportunity to review the systems and procedures already in place and ensure everything was being managed correctly.

Penny said: "When you're running your own food business, things are slightly different from working in a larger company, so I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right. Martine came and sat down with me, talked me through the Safer Food Better Business pack and explained what to expect during my inspection. She also took the time to look at what I already had in place and reassured me that I was on the right track. She was really approachable and helpful, and I'd be more than happy to contact her again if I needed any advice in the future."

The business continues to develop, with no shortage of ideas for the future. Together with her husband, Kingsley, Penny is constantly looking for new ways to expand the offering, with plenty of exciting plans still in the pipeline as Penny's Pantry continues to grow and establish itself within the local community

Penny’s Pantry was inspected in August 2026 by Oldham Council’s Environmental Health team and was awarded the top food hygiene rating of 5.

You can find Penny’s Pantry at Saddleworth Business Centre, Huddersfield Road, Delph, Oldham, OL3 5DF. They also have a Facebook page where you can check out the menu and keep up to date with news and events!