Estate expansions from craft bakery brands and first-time ventures into brick-and-mortar retail comprise the latest round-up of new shop openings.
These new stores are scattered across England, from as far south as the Isle of Wight and way up to Derbyshire, with a concentration in and around London plus one each in Birmingham and Bristol.
As the 14th article in our Opening Doors series, find more details on the 10 bakeries and their new enterprises below:
Bakehouse by Baked in Brick, Birmingham
The latest expansion of Baked in Brick founder Lee Desanges’ Bakehouse café concept sees a fifth venue located in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, adding to those opened in Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Broad Street, and Digbeth within the past two years.
The menu features a selection of sourdough, bloomers, rolls, focaccia, and tin loaves as well as freshly made sandwiches and toasties. There’s also some signature sweet pastries and cakes.
Like with its Digbeth site, the interior design has been done by Mathilde le Villain, while artwork was commissioned from local chalk artist Cali Martin. The tables at Bakehouse are described as ideal for catchups with friends or hybrid workers looking for a change of scenery and artisanal delights.
Boujon Bakery, Bristol
Founder Harriet Budgett saw her summertime hobby of icing biscuits for friends and family give rise to an online business launched in 2020’s lockdown. The bakery has since amassed corporate customers such as Snapchat, Penguin Random House, Savills, and Hyperoptic, and led to its first ever brick-and-mortar site on Gloucester Road in Bristol.
In the early stages after opening, the location was not been directly open to the public, although customers are allowed to pick up their orders there. Instead, the space is focussed on production and hosting biscuit decorating masterclasses for groups up to 10 people. “We cater for children’s parties, hen dos, and anything in between,” comments Budgett.
The Personalised Biscuit Box is one of the signature items available at Boujon and includes five biscuits with whatever design takes your fancy.
Cavan Bakery, Egham
Marking the 15th location in the Cavan estate spread across Surrey and southwest London, this new shop is said to be joining a “vibrant high street full of quality retailers” in Egham.
Among its range are 40 different types of bread including its signature sourdough, which are supplied from Cavan’s purpose-built 15,000 sq ft bakery facility in nearby Walton-on-Thames. The company notes it sources ingredients from local, independent traders where possible, to reduce food miles, operate sustainably, and boost the local economy.
Five new jobs have been created at the Egham shop, helping Cavan’s total workforce surpass 150 people.
De Santis, London
With a 60-year history of serving bespoke sandwiches to Milanese citizens, De Santis has now announced its arrival in London, opening an outlet in the crypt of Mercato Metropolitano market in Mayfair (see image at top). A new menu has been created for this site, featuring stuffed paninis, salads and snacks, along with meat and cheese boards.
Included in the sandwich line-up is the likes of the Derby, which gives a nod to Milan’s iconic cross-city football rivalry, and the Ronny, after Brazilian football legend Ronaldo who playted for both Inter and AC Milan. There’s also classic Italian combinations like the Cesare made with Breasola, mozzarella, artichokes and olive paté; and the Bologna comprised of Mortadella, PDO Gorgonzola, and pepper jam. Exclsuive to the UK is the London panini, which is filled with roast beef, cheddar, pickles, Tropea red onion, tomato, mayo, and mustard.
Don’t Tell Dad, London
This bakery/restaurant business hybrid in Queen’s Park is the brainchild of Coco di Mama co-founder Daniel Land, drawing its name from the mischievous phrase whispered between himself and his late sister Lesley when they were kids.
Former Layla head baker Keren Sternberg joins the team to command bakery operations, which take place during the day in tandem with the restaurant’s nighttime trade. Offerings include sweet and savoury pastries, breads, sandwiches and biscuits that play on nostalgic flavour combinations and twists on the classics. Highlight products include a Hazelnut Brown Butter Croissant, a Honey-poached Quince, Crème Fraîche & Pistachio Danish, and an Artichoke, Sage, and Lancashire Cheese Pain Suisse.
Grace’s Bakery, Isle of Wight
Family-run firm Grace’s has outgrown both its retail shops in Newport, hence deciding to close them in favour of a single site on the high street. With seating for 50 covers inside, it’s the company’s largest store to date and joins three others in operation across the island, in Ryde, Shanklin, and Yarmouth.
The business supplies these sites from a bakehouse in Ryde, housed inside a former corn mill. Its range includes bread, cakes, sandwiches, rolls, and savouries – its Belgian buns being a firm customer favourite along with multi-seeded loaves crafted with regeneratively sourced flour. Mr Blobby Biscuits (shortbread covered in pink icing and lemon spots) are also still popular, to the surprise of visiting “mainlanders”.
Grace’s was founded in 1997 by Ray and Carole Redrup, and named after Ray’s grandmother. The couple’s four children Daniel, David, Sarah, and Jodie have been brought into the business, which won the Customer Focus Award category at the 2020 Baking Industry Awards.
La Maritxu, London
The Basque cheesecake specialist has opened a second London location on Soho’s Kingly Street, following on from its site on Connaught Street in Paddington. The 271 sq ft café will serve a simple menu of 8” and 10” cheesecakes as well as grab-and-go slices, alongside coffee and branded merchandise such as aprons and utensils.
La Maritxu uses its own family recipe for Basque cheesecakes, which originate from San Sebastien and are baked at a high temperature to produce a caramelised exterior and rich, creamy centre.
“Our passion has always been focused on delivering a genuine and authentic Basque product, and this site provides an amazing opportunity to take La Maritxu’s brand story further, as we continue to build our presence in London,” commented founder Lucia Larragoiti Fisher.
Longboys, London
The doughnut specialist has opened its fourth site in London, located at the Canary Wharf branch of elevated food hall operator Market Halls. Other sites are in Coal Drops Yard, Borough Yards, and Liverpool Street.
Longboy’s latest opening coincided with its launch of a new winter series including flavours of Tiramisu, Salted Caramel Pretzel, Pistachio, and Apple Blackberry Crumble. All products are crafted by founder Graham Hornigold.
“2025 is going to be a pivotal year for Longboys,” expressed Hornigold. “We’re super excited to be working alongside Market Halls and bringing our concept to Canary Wharf. We want to keep reaching new audiences and continue showcasing the creativity and quality we’re passionate about.”
Pierre Alix Boulangerie, London
Another London retail double-up has been realised, this time in the capital’s northern districts. French-born baker Pierre Alix adds a second shop on Holloway Road to his original site in Muswell Hill, which will still serve as the production hub.
With a core range of organic sourdough loaves, baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat, alongside a rotating selection of seasonal specials, customers can expect to purchase bestsellers like the Pain de Campagne or Cranberry, Prune & Fig Bread.
The new shop offers seating for 26, with interior design influenced by French neighbourhood boulangeries, blending rustic wood finishes with modern touches to create a space that feels both warm and contemporary.
The Bakery by Sourdough Dave, Matlock
One more first-time shop opening completes our latest round-up, and sees us travel up to Derbyshire.
David Sargent (aka ‘Sourdough Dave’) and his partner Sarah set up the business in 2022, baking a variety of sourdough loaves simple, pastries, and buns. Signature products include the toasted sesame sourdough and lemon & poppyseed cinnamon buns.
The shop interior seats 32 and was designed by Sarah with a little help from a friend in the trade. Its open from Tuesday to Saturday, 8am to 3pm, with brunch served from 9:30am. Sourdough Dave also offers free delivery to customers within a 10km radius of Matlock.
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