Birmingham Bakery's £1.95 Caneles Earn Spot Among UK's 50 Best Bakeries

The Good Food Guide has unveiled its highly anticipated list of the 50 best bakeries across Britain for 2026, and a charming Birmingham suburb establishment has secured a coveted position. This prestigious recognition highlights the thriving modern baking scene, with Levain and Cherry on Pershore Road in Stirchley standing out as the sole representative from Birmingham.

A Destination Bakery in Stirchley

According to The Good Food Guide, 2026 marks the "year of the destination bakery," with the guide extensively searching the nation to identify the finest examples of contemporary baking. While nine of the top 50 bakeries are located in London, Levain and Cherry proudly represents Birmingham, situated on the trendy Pershore Road in Stirchley, a neighborhood not far from the city center.

This French artisan bakery has maintained its place on the list from previous years, renowned for its signature £1.95 caneles—generously-sized sweet pastries that have become a fan favorite. The bakery also offers rich, buttery croissants, breads crafted with organic flour sourced from a family-owned mill near Paris, and an array of flavourful savoury items.

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Expansion and Community Impact

Pascal Bishop, the proprietor, recently expanded his operations by opening a branch on Pershore Road last month, following the resounding success and rave reviews of his original Kings Court location in Kings Heath. The bakery's consistent high-quality bakes have evidently resonated with both locals and critics alike.

The 2026 Good Food Guide list has undergone significant changes, featuring 22 new entrants that introduce a diverse range of global flavours to the traditional Saturday morning pastry run. These include a Japanese-French fusion spot, a West African-influenced bakery, and various other innovative establishments.

Expert Insights on the Baking Scene

Chloë Hamilton, editor of The Good Food Guide, commented on the selection process, stating: "Choosing just 50 winners was an almost impossible task given how diverse and highly skilled the British baking scene has become. From wood-fired sourdough in Perthshire to a central London café peddling pains au chocolat that take you straight to the streets of Paris, one thing uniting them all is sheer unadulterated deliciousness."

Lizzie Barclay, head of international marketing at Square, which partnered with the guide to develop the list, added: "Britain's bakery scene is a brilliant example of the independent spirit that makes local businesses so vital to their communities. From micro bakeries operating out of a single oven to multi-award-winning artisans pushing the boundaries of craft and flavour, these 50 bakeries represent exactly the kind of businesses Square is proud to support. Together with Good Food Guide, we're proud to celebrate the businesses that prove exceptional food and strong community go hand in hand."