If you ask London foodies who does the best doughnut in London, 8 out of 10 of them would probably say Bread Ahead. They have a few branches in London, but their original and real home is in the Borough Market. They are actually known for a lot more than their luscious doughnuts such as their baked goods (essentially they are a bakery) and their bakery classes, but for us and for many London foodies, the doughnuts are of course the star of the show!
Their story
Matthew Jones is the chef behind Bread Ahead. In his early days he spent working alongside some of the best chefs in the UK including John Torode. In 2013, he decided to open a bakery in the world famous Borough Market, i.e. Bread Ahead, and what followed has been a lot of success. Now, they have numerous branches in the city including in Hampstead, Wembley and South Kensington. But it doesn’t stop there, they even made their international debut recently in the Dubai Expo representing the UK! So, who knows… maybe permanent international branches to follow? Read more about their story here.
Baking classes
The idea behind their ultra successful baking classes is to show everyone that baking wonderful world class treats is not a chef exclusive thing and can be done and done well by anyone and everyone. They have numerous courses that one can take part in including half day, full day and 3 day workshops. Workshops include for doughnuts, Scandinavian baking, New York bagel and pretzels, Japanese baking, British baking, French baking, croissants, pizza, gluten free, Middle Eastern baking, patisserie and sourdough to just name a few! The tutors are expert bakers and the courses are for everyone whether you are an expert yourself or just a beginner. The courses are available to do in-class as well as online. Check out their courses here.
The Doughnuts
Let’s talk about their doughnuts though. We have tasted most of their classic flavours including vanilla, praline and, salted caramel and honeycomb as well as their specials like the Eton mess. We have to admit the hype is real. Some may argue a bit expensive (specials are £4.50), but you’re paying for quality and it is London and it is 2022. The doughnuts taste delicious – they have that soft doughy texture and the fillings are all moreish with something for everyone I feel. They don’t shy away from the amount of filling neither, so it can be a messy affair. One thing I would say though is that we’ve tried their doughnuts from a couple of branches now and the consistency was lacking. The ones at the Borough Market were insanely good, but the ones from another branch weren’t as top tier in terms of taste and so it becomes hard to justify the price. So, I’d definitely advise trying them out in Borough Market if you plan to.
Getting there
Multiple locations in London
