Whether you’re searching for the perfect artisan bread or a sweet patisserie treat, you’ll be spoiled for choice at one of Gloucestershire’s best independent bakeries.
SoGlos has risen to the challenge of choosing 13 of our favourites spread across the county, so you can support local while buying your sourdough loaves and pains au chocolate.
Hetty's Kitchen in Gloucester
Gloucestershire's favourite brownie baker, SGGLA Food/Drink Producer of the Year Hetty's Kitchen bakes all of its 'fudging delicious' brownies at its bakery and café on Morelands Trading Estate in Gloucester. For the purists, the classic fudge brownie is always a winner, but with flavours like cookie dough, marbled cheesecake, chocolate orange, speculoos and sea salted caramel on offer, not to mention seasonal specials like ice-cream inspired brownies in summer, Halloween brownies in autumn and even brownie Scotch eggs at Easter, it'll be hard to resist trying one of each.
La Boulangerie Artisan in Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s La Boulangerie Artisan has achieved cult-like status – with locals queuing in all weathers at the industrial estate in Battledown, to get their hands on its range of sensational sourdough loaves, baguettes and ridiculously good croissants (especially the almond ones), all freshly-made each day with the best ingredients from France, using a traditional long fermentation process. Vive la slow food revolution!
Hobbs House Bakery in Nailsworth and Tetbury
Founded in the 1920s, Hobbs House has two Gloucestershire bakeries in Tetbury and Nailsworth, as well as nearby Chipping Sodbury, Malmesbury and Bristol too. Plus, it delivers its delicious bread and cakes to homes, restaurants and cafés across the UK. If you haven’t tried its famous sourdough loaves (or tried to bake your own using their 65-year-old starter) you are missing out.
The Forest Bakehouse in Longhope
Nestled in the village of Longhope, The Forest Bakehouse is a small community cooperative bakery, which makes fantastic long-fermentation breads and pastries using local, organic flour. Its selection of sourdough breads and croissants look exquisite.
Lavender Bakehouse in Stroud
Stroud’s Lavender Bakehouse lovingly bakes all of its cakes and pastries on the premises, with the option to order and enjoy at home or in the coffee shop – which serves up breakfast, lunch and afternoon high tea, too. Its signature orange and lavender cake is a must try.
Bakery on the Water in Bourton-on-the-Water
Family-run Bakery on the Water is situated in the pretty Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, baking artisan breads using traditional methods, for a delicious flavour and proper crunchy crust. It serves up breakfast pastries, brunch, delicious sandwiches and scones in the café, as well as homemade picnics to take away.
Knead in Cirencester
Cirencester’s Knead opened in December 2020, offering a wide variety of treats from its bakery on Black Jack Street. Its menu includes breads like toasted spelt loaf, confit garlic and red onion focaccia and Dutch crunch; cakes including chocolate and coffee loaf, blackcurrant and star anise teacakes, and blueberry custard brioche; as well as cookies, croissants and doughnuts.
Brew and Bake in Cheltenham
Brew and Bake on Bath Road in Cheltenham is a coffee shop and bakery famous for its cakes. It offers a staple menu for breakfast and brunch, with the bakery selection changing on a daily basis. Recent offerings include Chinese hoi sin rolls, Creme Egg brownies, Biscoff brondies and gingerbread millionaire’s shortbread.
Janes Pantry in Gloucester
With 10 stores across Gloucester and one in Cheltenham, as well as a home delivery service, independently run Janes Pantry offers a range of traditional treats, from rustic farmhouse loaves and sausage rolls to iced buns. It also runs a fleet of mobile sandwich vans that travel to workplaces across the county.
The Artisan Baker in Stroud
The Artisan Baker at Stroud's Five Valleys Shopping Centre is proudly organic and crafts its fresh bread and pastries on site every day. Choose from an array of incredible bakes, like golden croissants; Painswick sourdough, infused with Earl Grey tea; sourdough baguettes; organic challah; topped focaccia; and a range of vegan pastries, too.
St George's Bakery in Cheltenham
From classics like buttery, custard-filled pastel de nata; olive and rosemary sourdough; and slow fermented challah buns, to more creative bakes like date jam, rose and pistachio Chelsea buns; piña colada croissants; chocolate orange and sour cherry babka, St George's Bakery makes something to suit even the most adventurous palettes - with its spectacular creations available at Baker and Graze in Cheltenham and Penny Blacks Bakery in Prestbury.
Boys Bakery in Quedgley
Quedgeley-based Boys Bakery regularly pops up at markets all over the county, including Bishop's Cleeve market, Orchard Street Market at Gloucester Quays, Stonehouse town market and Fat Toni's in Quedgley, with a selection of its incredible hand-shaped sourdough baguettes and loaves, crispy croissants, focaccia, Danish pastries and plenty more.
Salt Bakehouse in Stroud
Stroud artisan bakery, Salt Bakehouse, is famous for its delicious bread, baking everything from classic sourdoughs, baguettes and ancient grains to tasty flavours made from foraged ingredients, like wild garlic; nettle and red onion; roast potato and rosemary; and walnut and dark ale loaves. It also bakes impressive pastries including classic croissants, Danish pastries, claws and scruffins - with products available from its kiosk in Stroud and it's travelling bakehouse van.
