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Bristol bakeries named in Good Food Guide’s top 50
Three of Bristol’s most celebrated bakeries have made it to an esteemed national list.
The Good Food Guide recently released its 2025 list of top 50 bakeries in Britain with Farro, Hart’s and Lockdown Loaves making the cut.
Farro in St Paul’s was also featured in The Times’ list of 49 Best Bakeries in Britain, the Financial Times’ Best 20 Bakeries shortlist, and the Baker’s Dozen, a prestigious list compiled by British Baker magazine.
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Calling Farro a local gem, the Good Food Guide wrote: “In the most unlikely of locations, right by the city’s Bearpit roundabout, ‘probably my favourite bakery of all time’ puts the focus on ancient grains; the owners mill their own in-house and produce an einkorn wheat loaf with an incredible depth of flavour.
Stacked goodied always lure you to buy more than one treats at Farro – photo: Martin Booth
They continued: “Best pastries are probably the honey and almond croissant, the pastel de nata and the totally ‘unmissable’ canelé. So often, bakeries lose that element of quality by branching out into sandwiches and the like. Not here.
“All they do is bake bread and pastries to wonderful perfection.”
Not very far from the Brunswick Square-based bakery is Hart’s, an artisan bakery tucked in a railway shed under Temple Meads.
Hart’s appearance in the Good Food Guide’s top 50 is no surprise as the bakery is usually overflowing with patrons dropping in for a baked treat, coffee or even lunch.
The bakery run by Laura Hart and team, has been serving treats to Bristol for more than 10 years and was recognised in 2024 for being one of Britain’s most creative coffee shops.
Sip on your coffee while gazing at the baking crew hard at work at Hart’s – photo: Karen Johnson
Reviewing Hart’s, the Good Food Guide said: “Handy for a classy train snack to go, this excellent bakery next to Bristol Temple Meads station is also a hugely popular destination in its own right.
“Inside, it’s simply decorated with moveable counters on castors and a gleaming coffee machine in front of the open-plan workspace.
“There are also a few tables inside and a couple of outdoor benches for those who want to linger over their doorstep sourdough toasties or cinnamon buns.
“Open from early doors till 3pm, its daily menu of baked goodies is supplemented by lunch specials such as chicken and tomato broth with asparagus and peas. Coffee is from the local Extract roastery.”
Hannah Catley, who owns Catley’s and Lockdown Loaves has just opened a headquarters site for Catley’s in St Anne’s.
Praising Lockdown Loaves in Winterbourne, the Good Food Guide team said: “Opened – you guessed it – during lockdown, this village bakery has the kind of cool, urban vibe you’d expect to find in nearby Bristol – in fact, the owners have opened a sister branch called Catley’s in Clifton.
“Come for the tasty, Instagram-worthy cakes, pastries and sourdough loaves, but stay for the lip-smacking homemade Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, doorstep sourdough toasties and great coffee. They can even whip up an affogato using their soft-serve ice cream machine. Local eggs, coffee beans, condiments and cookbooks are also for sale.”
Farro, Hart’s and Lockdown Loaves are also panel picks in our EatDrink24/7 guide, which comes out this summer with recommendations for Farro breaking all previous records.
Main photo: Hart’s / Farro / Lockdown Loaves
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