Exquisite doughnuts and mouthwatering pastries are the signature offerings of new craft bakery shops recently opened across the UK.
Among the five sites launched, two are located in London while Bristol, York and Chesterfield welcome one each. Some mark just the first or second brick-and-mortar locations of brands, while others are the latest expansions of a chain.
Adding to the previous handful of new outlets highlighted last time out in British Baker, here’s the tenth edition of the Opening Doors series:
Heppni Bakeri, York
This artisan bakery takes its name from the Old Norse word for luck, which just so happens to be the surname of founder India Luck. The 25-year-old, who grew up in York and worked for a number of bakeries in the city as well as further afield, wanted to give a nod to the heritage of the area which was ruled by Scandinavians over a thousand years ago.
After 12 months of planning, hard work and support from friends, family and trusted suppliers, Luck has now opened her own shop along the historic cobbles of York’s Swinegate quarter. Featuring distinctive pastel orange branding, Heppni aims to be a welcoming and relaxed ‘neighbourhood bakery’ for the city’s residents.
Both sweet and savoury pastries are being served at the site, including a range of French and Danish favourites complemented by creative twists and seasonal specials. One such example is the ‘Paddington’, a cross-laminated and plaited pastry filled with marmalade and almond frangiprane. “They’ll be some Portuguese influence too,” noted Luck.
Pipp & Co, Bristol
Artisan doughnut supplier Pipp & Co, which produces 20,000 doughnuts per week on average out of its factory in Swindon, has branched out with its first retail outlet in Bristol’s relaxing College Green area.
Mario and Betina Evangelista purchased the company in 2015, growing it from a small bakery selling primarily at farmers’ markets into a £1.3m turnover business with a list of around 120 stockists including farm shops and cafés mainly across the West of England.
Doughnuts, toasties, and sweet and savoury pastries are among the offerings at the new café, with signature bakes including mixed berry and pistachio custard doughnuts, Belgian white chocolate and hazelnut mousse cruffins, and cinnamon rolls. “We have always stayed true to the original founders’ passion for creating a quality product, from quality ingredients, with nothing artificial,” commented Betina.
It’s production site employs between 35 and 40 people, with the new café creating a further eight roles. “If Bristol is successful, and we believe it will be, we have plans to open more cafes in other locations,” added Mario.
Donutelier, London
Sticking with the doughnut theme, and the London firm which specialises in luxury hand-crafted items that put a modern twist on classic French patisserie is doubling up its retail estate with a Carnaby Street site. This follow the launch last year of Donutelier’s inaugural shop on Charing Cross Road.
The new 1,300 sq ft space, positioned at the gateway entrance to dining hub Kingly Court, serves a range of visually stunning creations including Dulcey Pecan, Black Forest, and Vanilla Cookie Cream doughnuts, alongside a range of croissants and Danish pastries. “With our growing presence and unique offer, we feel that we can stand out in the market and match the demand of this fantastic location,” commented Théa Marks, chief operating officer at Donutelier.
L’Eto, London
West End property developer Shaftesbury Capital also announced the arrival of the ninth London location from upmarket restaurant and café brand L’Eto, which also operates a global portfolio of sites including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
Housed inside Covent Garden’s chic shopping and dining area, The Yards, the new 3,500 sq ft outlet boasts a counter displaying a mouthwatering array of cakes and pastries, accentuated by a captivating and light-filled environment inspired by the components of summer.
There’s also an all-day dining menu featuring a varied selection of nutritious and healthy dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner including bakery items such as Buttermilk Pancakes, Grilled Peach Caramelised French Toast, Avocado Pretzel, Truffled Scrambled Egg Brioche Toast, and Steak Sandwich.
Forge Bakehouse, Chesterfield
Continuing its recovery after dipping in and out of administration late last year, the bakery chain has expanded outside its Sheffield base with a new site at The Pavements Shopping Centre in Chesterfield town centre. This adds to Forge’s four existing shops and cafés in Abbeydale, Beauchief, Lodge Moor, and Dronfield as well as outlets at the Forum in Sheffield city centre and at Sheffield Station.
“The core of our success is the continued use of the finest quality ingredients and a team of fantastic chefs, bakers and baristas,” commented Forge Bakehouse co-owner Liva Guest, adding that the shopping centre location in Chesterfield was “convenient and extremely attractive”.
A range of artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and savouries are produced at Forge’s Abbeydale bakery and supplied to its shops, as well as for weddings, corporate events, markets and meetings. New savoury lines like the Forge Bakehouse melted cheese croissant are said to have increased the brand’s popularity as both an eat in and take out destination. The company currently employs more than 40 people, with further expansion plans to be unveiled in the coming months.
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