FOOD + DRINK The Great Kentish Bake Off cont...
HALSTEAD BAKERY GRAIN & HEARTH
© Saltwick Media
SIGNATURES: CLASSICS IN KENT BAKING
Our signature section explores the bakeries bursting with Kentish culture. Whether boasting a beautiful location or a rich family history, each has earned its place as a Kentish favourite and is absolutely worth a visit.
We begin our tour on Kent’ s southeast coastline with Florence’ s Artisan Bakery(@ florencesartisanbakery). Just a five-minute stroll from the pebbled shores of Hythe Beach, this award-winning bakery has earned national recognition, winning the 2025 Gold Medal at Britain’ s Best Loaf for their white bloomer.
While the loaves have won accolades, it is their famed croissants and speciality pasties that keep locals coming back. Celebrated for their wide range of flavours and generous portion size, they certainly spare no expense crafting their indulgent patisserie products, making this the perfect pitstop to fuel your morning.
If you’ re looking for a quieter countryside treat, Gilda Bakery( gildabakery. com) is a hidden gem just outside of Canterbury. Nestled alongside a charming farm shop and tearoom, the bakery has a beautiful outdoor space to be enjoyed with a freshly prepared treat. Every bake is prepared from scratch each day and, if you can’ t quite get enough of their delightful bakes, you can choose to take home a variety of Gilda’ s original-flavoured loaves from Cheddar and Chorizo to Cinnamon and Raisin; there’ s even a rich cocoa-infused sourdough that transforms artisan bread into an indulgent dessert.
Head north to the cobbled streets of Whitstable and you’ ll discover Hubbard’ s, a small family-run bakery that has been operating for 50 years and has become a cornerstone of the local community. Perfectly placed for a seaside stroll, Hubbard’ s offers an irresistible mix of savoury rolls and freshly baked sweet treats- the bakery is particularly renowned for its charming seasonal gingerbread creations, which have become a firm favourite with returning customers of all ages.
From a long-established favourite to one of Kent’ s newest success stories, Elle’ s Bakery( ellesbakery. com) has quickly become a mustvisit destination on Chatham High Street. Despite opening its first bricks-and-mortar shop only last year, the bakery has earned a loyal following thanks to its ever-growing selection of indulgent bakes. From cupcakes to flapjacks, brownies and cookie pies, you name it, they bake it. One of its standout creations is the Bite Bucket- a generous selection featuring more than 20 brownie and brookie bites( rich chocolate brownie bases with a chocolate chip cookie dough centre) in 11 delicious flavours.
For a local taste, head to Halstead Bakery( halsteadbakery. com) based in Tunbridge Wells where each bake is the result of many local ingredients grown by producers across the county. A quick stop can leave you with a daily loaf, a sweet treat or something entirely new, all made fresh daily, and September brings new seasonal flavours to the shelves packed with buttery croissants and generously filled pastries.
For those who prefer savoury over sweet, Average Doughs Bakery( averagedoughsbakery. com) in West Malling is well worth a visit. Best known for its generously filled sandwiches, toasties and wraps, every item is packed with flavour. Situated by the local sports pavilion, it is an ideal spot for some much-needed respite while the kids enjoy a kickabout, with a spacious cafe providing plenty of room to sit back and relax. Better still, Average Doughs is proudly dog-friendly, so four-legged visitors are welcomed just as warmly as their owners and spoiled with treats galore from the friendly team.
Our final signature bakery takes us back to Tunbridge Wells to the Rusbridge Family Bakery( rusbridgefamilybakery. co. uk). Founded in 1973, this third-generation family business has been serving the local community for more than 50 years. Today, brothers Rob and Richard continue the legacy established by their late father, Mike Rusbridge, through their mixture of traditional and specialty freshly baked buns and much more. Rusbridge continues to be a hidden gem, tucked away just five minutes from Southborough town and within easy reach of the picturesque countryside surrounding High Brooms.
78 • www. insidekent. co. uk