The cult bakery that's expanding rapidly across the UK

A viral bakery is expanding across Britain, having recently opened a new 1,100 sq ft site in one of London’s most iconic shopping centres.

Despite icons of the UK high street, including Patty&Bun and Franco Manca, facing a myriad of closures, business is booming elsewhere, with a slew of US fast-food brands, such as Jersey Mike’s and Raising Cane’s, planning on planting roots in the capital.

Leading the sweet treat charge is a brand that started life on Newport Place way back in the early 2010s.

Since then, the outlet, famed for serving up high-quality Hong Kong-style baked goods including egg tarts and pineapple buns, has rapidly expanded, with its latest shop at Westfield London, with plans to open 20 sites across the UK in the next five years.

“Step into our Westfield White City location for genuine Hong Kong bakery vibes in the heart of West London,” the official website reads.

A beloved bakery in the heart of London is rapidly expanding (Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“Try our triangle sponge cakes are absolute bestsellers - fluffy, buttery, and gone by mid-afternoon most days.”

Bosses added: “Whether you're chasing your regular or discovering us for the first time, there's always something warm and tempting fresh from the oven.”

Of course, we’re talking about Chinatown Bakery - a business co-owned by Simon Tang, who told The British Baker that he was proud of its recent expansion into Westfield shopping mall in Shepherd’s Bush.

“We started with one small shop in Chinatown 12 years ago, staying true to the flavours and techniques of the Hong Kong bakeries that inspired us,” he gushed.

The haus of sweet treats has opened up in Westfield (Instagram/@chinatown.bakery)

“To now share that with the millions of visitors who come through Westfield each year – while keeping every bake as authentic as the first – is exactly the kind of growth we set out to achieve.”

Alongside Chinatown Bakery, the company also operates Tong Tea.

The latter is a modern tea and dessert concept that offers Asian-inspired sweet treats and viral Taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food.

While there is only one Tong Tea, situated near the Chinatown Gate, there are currently six Chinatown Bakery locations, including Wardour Street, and Queensway.

On Tripadvisor, the brand has a solid 4.3 star rating and is considered one of the top 30 bakeries across the whole of London.

Favourable reviews from fans litter the site, with one typing that the sites offer a ‘great selection of bakery goods’.

Chinatown Bakery now has six sites across London (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

“We got some of the custard filled fish, pandan cake, and a pandan bread roll. All of which were delicious. All were reasonably priced and we'll definitely be back,” they commented.

A second wrote: “Visited a Chinatown bakery recently and honestly, I was really impressed. From the moment I walked in, the smell of fresh pastries hit me—always a good sign. The place had a nice, relaxed vibe, and everything looked freshly made and well presented.”

Swiss rolls, buns, and other delicious items can be purchased inside the outlets (Instagram/@chinatown.bakery)

“I have been here dozens of times over the years and it’s been a pleasure to watch this bakery grow and prosper,” replied someone else.

Head to your local branch to pick up red bean rolls, banana cake, Chinese crisp cookies, and Pandan Lotus mini mooncakes.

If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, then traditional pork buns, black sesame rolls, and bread topped with sliced sausage and cheese should do the trick.

Bakery outside of London expanding

If you’re situated outside of London or can’t get yourself down to Chinatown Bakery anytime soon, then fear not: there’s another bakery chain that’s rapidly expanding across another part of the UK.

The brand, which sells indulgent sweet pastries, savoury pies, and sausage rolls, has been dubbed ‘better than Greggs’ by some customers.

The beloved business, which was established in 1954, is known as Bayne’s The Family Bakers, and is only situated across Scotland.

Bayne’s The Family Bakers has previously been hailed as 'better' than Greggs (Bayne’s The Family Bakers)

A ‘significant expansion programme’ is in the works, as per a filing with Fife Council.

It will include the opening of a further 69 new shop units across Scotland, the report said.

The filing added that as a key part of this expansion programme, the company is ‘currently in the process of finalising the purchase of part of the allocated employment site which lies directly adjacent to their existing facility from Fife Council.’

It’s an exciting time to be a baked goods fiend, don’t you think?