Just the Ticket for Maia

Maia White is a young Ballymena baker who launched The Ticket Bakehouse in 2022 and has transformed a rustic building located at Cullybackey train station into a thriving local café, thanks to help from the Go For It programme in association with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

The Ticket Bakehouse opened in September 2022, with 21-year-old Maia Alouise White at the helm. With a passion for baking, she couldn’t turn down the chance to run her own business when the opportunity presented itself.

Describing the last two years as a whirlwind, Maia said it has been thrilling to see the venture take off.

“When I was younger, I always dreamt about opening my own bakery, café or patisserie. Never in a million years did I think I would be handed the keys to my very own café at the age of 21,” she said.

“It has been a whirlwind journey and I’m so grateful to be presented with this opportunity and I’m determined to make it as successful as possible.”

Situated in the train station’s old ticket office, the beautiful building has wonderful character and history, with Maia describing it as “the perfect location”.

“Robert and Anne Christie, my landlords, spent two years renovating the building, whilst keeping its character and preserving the stunning features of the station,” she said.

“The beautiful building is listed, meaning its traditional charm still exists, which is something I love and think this is a huge part of my unique selling point.

“Another thing that makes The Ticket Bakehouse so unique is that I personally bake everything that’s on offer. I serve everything from breakfast to brunch and lunch, along with an array of delicious baked goods and freshly ground coffee.”

YOU CAN READ THE FULL FEATURE ON THE TICKET BAKEHOUSE IN THE MARCH ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER – COMING SOON!