Jacka Bakery
Baking on the site since 1597, Jacka Bakery, on Plymouth’s Southside Street, is thought to be the oldest commercial bakery in Britain. Its historic pedigree extends to an impressive customer roster, which is reported to include Sir Francis Drake and the Pilgrims, before they sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Today it continues to serve up bread, handmade cakes and pastries,
a selection of deli products and locally roasted coffee. In 2026, Jacka was named one of the top
six bakeries in the UK by the Great British Food Awards, garnering a special mention for its ‘addictive’ pain au chocolat, hailed ‘the best in the UK’. facebook.com/JackaBakery
Rinkoffs
When Hyman Rinkoff came to London from Ukraine with his beloved recipes in the early 20th century, little could he have known that these same bakes would remain a staple of the local community more than a century later. Rinkoffs opened in 1911, and the business (one of the oldest and best-known Jewish family bakeries in east London) remains proudly in the hands of Hyman’s descendants. Many of the products from its earliest days, including speciality bread, challah and cakes, are still going strong, but Rinkoffs has moved with the times, pioneering new baking trends, such as the crodough – a hybrid of a croissant and a doughnut. rinkoffs.co.uk
Sally Lunn’s
These days, Sally Lunn’s historic eating house is one of Bath’s best-known cafes, famed for its local speciality, the Sally Lunn bun. While the bun’s true origins are unclear, the story goes that this iconic delicacy was the product of a Huguenot refugee, Solange Luyon, who arrived in the UK in 1680 and began working in a bakery in Bath’s Lilliput Alley. Renamed ‘Sally Lunn’ by locals, Solange began baking a version of the traditional, brioche-like bread from her homeland, which swiftly gained local popularity. Today, the bun is reportedly still made to Sally’s original recipe and attracts visitors from across the UK and beyond. sallylunns.co.uk
Oxford’s Bakery
Frank and Olive Oxford bought the village bakehouse in Alweston, near Sherborne, back in 1911 and today the fourth generation of their family is in charge of this artisan bakery, which has several shops across Dorset. Its many decades of history are worn proudly – the ovens used today were installed in 1921 and the company’s largest dough mixer is 75 years old, reputedly the last one still in working order anywhere in the world. These days its shops are all piled high with enticing savoury and sweet baked goods. Alongside all this produce, Oxford’s also runs bakery courses and a Tuesday ‘Talk and Tour’ to share its story (and, of course, its bakes) with visitors. oxfordsbakery.co.uk
Fisher & Donaldson
This popular Scottish bakery started life in 1919, when brothers-in-law Willie Fisher and Davie Donaldson returned from the First World War and used their demob money to set up a bakery in Cupar, near Fife. It has remained in the family and, since 2020, the business has been in the hands of siblings Chloe, Ben and Jade, the fifth generation to take the reins. Fisher & Donaldson retains an excellent line in Scottish recipes such as oat bannocks, Dundee cakes and shortbread, as well as offering celebration cakes and a wide range of breads and sweet treats. There are now several branches in east Scotland, as well as a sleek online store. fisheranddonaldson.com
St Agnes Bakery
Where better to head for the ultimate Cornish pasty than the county from which it originates? And when in Cornwall, St Agnes Bakery is one of the very best places to taste this local legend. For over 100 years, this bakery has been cooking up traditional Cornish recipes for the local community in the beautiful village of St Agnes. The business still operates from its original site and has garnered fans from near and far for its produce, especially for its flavoursome pasties and its giant sausage rolls (so much so that it now offers a ‘pasties by post’ service for those who need a fix when not in the area). stagnesbakery.co.uk
