black&white #25: A baker’s dozen: 13 bakeries and bakehouses to drink Canton

4 min steep

There’s nothing quite like a fabulous pastry and a gorgeous cup of tea to start the weekend. And happily, some of the UK’s best bakeries and patisseries serve Canton alongside their artisan breads, croissants and cakes. Read our guide to the 13 best below.

And just a note about why a baker’s dozen refers to 13 rather than 12. 

In medieval England, bakers who were found to be cheating their customers by overpricing undersized loaves were fined or flogged. Because scales didn’t exist back then, and because each loaf could fluctuate in terms of weight and size when baked, bakers would commonly chuck in an extra loaf to their dozen, to make sure they were always on the right side of the law. 

London and South East

⬤  Cakes & Bubbles, London

A dessert-focused restaurant set up by Albert Adrià, the legend that co-founded the 3 Michelin star El Bulli and voted The World’s Best Pastry Chef by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Seriously immersive indulgence.

⬤  Brunswick East, London

Serving up Australian-style brunch and speciality coffee and tea, Brunswick East is fun, easy-going and fabulous. They have a couple of sites in Dalston and Hackney Downs – and their brunches really are exceptional.

⬤  Pophams, London

Another mainstay of the London baking scene, Pophams is an artisanal bakery and restaurant serving up hand-crafted viennoiserie pastries and fresh pasta with a modern twist. They’ve also recently branched out into some very gorgeous homeware from local makers.

⬤  E5 Bakehouse, London

Oh yes. The legendary E5 Bakehouse serves Canton tea in their two London cafes alongside some of the best bread in the country. They also employ and train people from refugee communities whilst investing profits back into refugee support projects. 

⬤  Small Batch, Brighton and Hove

With branches all over Brighton and Hove, Small Batch has become a cornerstone of the Brighton cafe scene. They have their very own small batch bakery, in which they make a gorgeous array of sweet treats and their signature sausage and vegan rolls.

⬤  Open House Deli, Winchester

Championing sustainable ‘slow food’ made from scratch, Winchester-based Open House Deli is all about fresh, locally sourced food that tastes delicious. They make incredible salads, as well as their own cakes and vegan treats.

South West

⬤  Exploding Bakery, Exeter

A cake company that takes an ethical approach to their ingredients, the people they work with, and the products they make. You can order their delicious bakes online or sit down in their Exeter-based cafe for a cup of Canton and a superb slice of cake.

⬤  Pinkmans, Bristol

Bristol-based Pinkmans bakery has previously been voted one of The Sunday Times Top 25 Bakeries in the UK, so you can count on exquisite baking, fantastic ingredients and a team who really knows their stuff. Plus, they don’t take themselves too seriously.

⬤  Mark’s Bread

An award-winning bakery in Southville Bristol that prides itself on its much-loved sourdough, as well as their full range of breads, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and lunch specials. They also sell their own groceries – including their famous house ketchup.

Midlands and the North

⬤  Kimmy Loves Cake, Birmingham

Based in Bewdley, around an hour west of Birmingham, Kimmy Loves Cake opened in 2011 and has since been producing some of the most mouth-wateringly delicious cakes in the county. It also does epic grilled cheese sandwiches and delivers nationwide.

⬤  Laynes Espresso, Leeds

This Leeds-based cafe and bakery has been serving up superb breakfasts, brunches and bakes for over ten years – and they show no sign of slowing down. They’re independently-owned, barista-run and usually have queues snaking out the door…

⬤  Triangle Bakehouse, West Yorkshire

Specialising in ancient and heritage grains, Triangle Bakehouse is famous for its naturally leavened sourdough breads. It also serves up beautiful viennoiserie and gorgeous, wholesome cakes – and almost all of the ingredients they use are organic. You can find their micro-bakery and cafe in Ripponden, West Yorkshire.

⬤  39 Cafe and Bakehouse, West Yorkshire

With a strong focus on sustainability and local sourcing, 39 Cafe and Bakehouse serves up beautiful breakfasts, brunches and lunches in Ilkley, West Yorkshire – as well as some truly gorgeous cakes, bakes and pastries.