The underrated UK city that's Britain's 'best' for bakeries

With thousands of bakeries scattered across the UK, whether you prefer flaky croissants or classic scones, nothing quite beats the charm and taste of a local bakery over supermarket shelves. As The Great British Bake Off returns for its 16th season, a fresh look into the UK's baking hotspots has revealed an unexpected leader and it's not London. According to new data from small business insurance provider Simply Business, the Midlands is home to 14% of the UK's active independent bakeries in 2024, making it the number one region for small bakery businesses.

Trailing just behind are East Anglia and North East England, each with 13%. Simply Business highlighted Serena's Sweet Treats and The Cravery Cakes both located in Birmingham as standout examples of the Midlands being home to many thriving independent bakeries.

Serena Wesley, owner of Serena's Sweet Treats in Birmingham, said: "I started my business after going to college and university, but had a break due to being diagnosed with hypothyroidism as well as having chronic widespread pain syndrome. During my break I had two children, so I began baking cakes for birthdays, Christmas and special occasions.

"My family and friends started to want baked goods too. I was having so much fun trying out new recipes and creating new sweet treats, so I decided that I wanted to turn it into a career. I got help from King's Trust who awarded me with a grant to transform my passion into a home bakery."

Mrs. Kamila Adamczewska and Mr. Kandanchira, owners of The Cravery Cakes in Birmingham also said: "The Cravery launched during England's first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Unable to leave the house, and realising our local community could use something to lift their spirits, my husband and I began baking and selling treats to neighbours.

"The response was overwhelming. Within a year, we grew into a fully functional online bakery, delivering our signature cakes across Birmingham. Today, with hundreds of orders each week, we've come a long way from handing out cakes from our home to becoming one of the top-rated birthday cake delivery services in Birmingham."

Levain & Cherry, a French artisan bakery in Birmingham, has also earned national recognition, being named one of Britain's top 50 bakeries for 2025 by The Good Food Guide's Best Bakeries list.

Other well-loved independent bakeries in Birmingham include The Early Bird Bakery, Medicine Bakery, Bread Collection, Pause Coffee Shop & Bakery, each bringing their own unique twist to traditional and modern baking.

Birmingham's oldest bakery, Savage's Bakery + Deli, dates back to 1939, when it was opened by the Savage family. In 1978, the bakery was purchased by Van Scott Jr., and it has remained in the Scott family ever since

Julie Fisher, CEO at Simply Business, added: "The stoic spirit of small business owners is the backbone of the economy and the UK's independent bakers are a shining example of how creativity and community spirit can fuel long-term success. It's truly encouraging to see their unwavering resilience, despite challenging trading conditions."

The new data has also revealed that there has been a 34% of independent bakers in the UK in the last five years.