A magnificent seven craft bakery businesses are introducing new outlets to communities all across England.
Some are established brands expanding their estates, while others are making a first leap into bakery retail. Italian, Hungarian, and Argentinian recipes are also embraced in the offerings.
Marking the eleventh edition of the Opening Doors series in British Baker, here’s details on the latest additions to the UK baking scene:
Happy Cinnamon Artisan Bakery, Nailsworth
Its a family affair in Gloucestershire, where Flora Ekli, her mum Anita, and stepdad Tamas have teamed up to launch a new shop selling artisanal bakery items, many with a Hungarian twist.
The sourdough loaves, made with a 107-year-old starter from Italy, are said to be flying off the shelves. On the sweet side, cinnamon rolls are a rather obvious favourite but there’s also Bull’s Eyes – brioche buns filled with crème patisserie and topped with fresh fruit such as raspberries or blueberries.
Flora reveals they are also introducing their own version of kürtőskalács, or chimney cakes, the tubular sweet dough pastries traditionally baked over charcoal. “If you’ve been to Budapest, you’ve likely seen these on every corner – amazing smell, amazing treat,” she commented.
EL&N Deli & Bakery, London
This brand-new concept from high-end café chain EL&N is located at Covent Garden’s Grade II-listed Market Building. The menu features some of its brunch classics like Smashed Avocado & Egg Focaccia, Brown Sugar & Sesame Pancake, and Burrata & Truffle Croissant, along with new artisanal bakery additions such as folded pizzas, mini pizzettas, and 72-hour focaccia topped with fresh Italian produce. There’s an assortment of decadent cake slices available too.
The 650 sq ft interior space can seat 14 diners while the large outside terrace on the historic pedestrianised Piazza offers al fresco dining for up to 54 covers. Soft furnishings follow a new colour palette of soft green and burnt terracotta orange.
EL&N currently operates nine locations around central London, one in Birmingham, and one in Manchester, as well as seven more across Europe, 11 in the Middle East, and one in each of Malaysia and South Africa. It follows recent openings in Covent Garden from upmarket restaurant and café brand L’Eto and luxury French pâtisserie brand Ladurée.
Westgate Bakery, Grantham
Chef Adebola Adeshina has unveiled the latest addition to his Heritage Social Group of eateries, a new bakery located along Westgate street in the centre of Grantham, Lincolnshire. It produces a range of bread, sandwiches, cakes, and pastries onsite including its bestselling almond or pistachio croissants. Spread across two floors, the shop transforms into a romantic wine bar in the evening.
The interior design features exposed brick and structural beams that are said to add character and charm, with minimal yet impactful artwork enhancing the cozy atmosphere. A baker’s dozen of 13 staff are currently employed with recruitment ongoing for more bakers and baristas.
Adeshina, who previously worked under Gordon Ramsey and Marcus Wareing, is also behind Peterborough restaurants The Chubby Castor (which appears in the Michelin Guide) and The Yard Castor next door. He plans to open a new bistro-style restaurant called Westgate 1852 next year, just around the corner from his Grantham bakery.
Public, Nottingham
Another Grade II-listed building, this time on Nottingham’s historic Low Pavement, is home to this new coffee shop and bakery, which sees the brand doubling up from its first site opened in Loughborough in 2021.
Public says it thrives on creativity and innovation, putting its own twist on the newest trends or experimenting with new recipes such as its bread and butter croissant pudding, “filled with heaps of Nutella, of course”. All bakery items are made onsite every morning, with customers able to view production – it claims to “always have huge variety of baked treats on display” and serves brunch plates such as sourdough toasted sandwiches.
The company said it was looking for a building with character, and has maintained original architectural features like the large pillars and ceiling details to contrast with the earthy tones of its counter to create the “perfect coffee shop atmosphere”.
The Bakehouse by Baked in Brick, Birmingham
Located in the Custard Factory – Digbeth’s vibrant creative hub which was once headquarters for Bird’s Custard – this newest shop adds to Baked in Brick’s three other retail sites spread across Birmingham under its The Bakehouse brand.
Customers can purchase sourdough, tin loaves, bloomers, rolls, and focaccia, pastries, cakes, and other items made at the company’s bakery in the suburb of Erdington. A selection of sourdough sandwiches are also available and can be freshly toasted before serving, while doughnuts and cruffins were noted to have sold most over the past month.
The new shop has seating for 14 inside and an additional eight outside, with interior design done by Mathilde Le Villaine. Digbeth is also where street food chef Lee Deranges opened his first Baked in Brick restaurant in 2019, before expanding with bakery shops in Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, and Broad Street. Another Bakehouse is set to open soon in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, and the company is in the middle of creating a third Digbeth site that will incorporate a restaurant, cookery school, and bakery.
De Nadas, London
Empanada specialist De Nadas is expanding its retail footprint for a third time with a new shop in Stoke Newington. It also has an outlet in Shoreditch as well as its original site in Notting Hill, from where it handcrafts its range of Argentinian-style bakery products.
These include 15 types of empanadas with popular flavours like Classic Beef, Spicy Lamb, Creamy Chicken, Chorizo and Ham & Cheese, and Smoked Cheese & Malbec Onion, along with vegan versions such as Roast Butternut Squash & Kale. The company also makes alfajores, which are similar to a shortbread biscuit sandwich filled with Dulce de Leche, with shops also serving South American wines and beers, Vermouth, and coffee.
The new space has seating for 20 plus a ‘Vinyl Wine Room’ to host wine and empanada tasting sessions whilst listening to vinyl records. De Nadas was founded in 2022 by Ñako Martinez, Annabel Fox, and Nico Buyo, and currently employs 15 people. It is looking to expand further in the coming months with a larger commercial kitchen, enabling it to open more shops and increase its catering capabilities.
The Savvy Baker, Chesterfield
Having only just opened its second café in York last month, the sweet treat specialist unveiled a new store a few weeks later at St Mary’s Gate in Chesterfield. These are supplied daily by The Savvy Baker’s production site in the Leeds suburb of Seacroft, which also sends stock to its first shop in nearby Roundhay.
Among its signature offerings are gooey brownies, blondies, cookies, and brookies, accompanied by some equally indulgent beverages. The bestseller is the caramel cornflake brownie, comprising crunchie and sweet caramel cornflakes atop a rich chocolate brownie. “We have customers buy full boxes of them,” commented Savannah Roqaa, who founded the brand in 2020 after impressing her friends with her newfound bakery skills during lockdown.
The company also hosts pop up stalls at food festivals, Christmas markets, and shopping centres, with a residency at Leeds United’s Elland Road for every home game. It make protein brownies as well for Ultraflex gyms across the UK. With 15 staff currently on the books and more part-timers brought in to run the pop ups, Roqaa said she will just try to maintain her three shops for the time being, with a hopeful eye on branching out to London one day.
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