My favourite Hull bakeries and sweet treat purveyors

I'm going to preface this blog by saying - stay home, protect the NHS, save lives! But if you have any of these bakeries locally and it's in the rules to be able to do so, mask up, socially distance, sanitise your hands, and go for it! It'll be as safe as a supermarket is. (Also - delivery is available for many of them).

During the first lockdown, my social media seemed permeated by baked goods - mainly of the home-baked variety. It seemed like there was some kind of national zeitgeist that people wanted to put their boredom and frustration into edible goodies - namely sourdough and banana bread.

More recently, there seems to be a proliferation of people turning their hand to monetising their hobby - at the moment my instagram seems to be full of hobby bakers delivering brownies or cheesecakes from their homes. And I guess if it makes some extra money and brings people joy, who's to complain?

We're a nation living through the worst of times - of late at least - with so many people dying every day, all the while people lose their jobs or businesses, or are struggling with their mental health. It's tough. There's a lot of understandable anxiety. I think this is why people are reaching for baked goods as comfort food.

With baking, it's cheap to buy, so can be an inexpensive treat, and we're really limited to what perks we can get at the moment. In the grand scheme of things, tucking into some cake or a sausage roll after a tough week isn't that bad. There's many more worse coping strategies.

I have always spoken highly of Hull's food scene. There are a lot of young people with fresh ideas starting up, alongside more established and traditional vendors. Food here is a far cry from the simple patty buttie days these days (though they are still delicious) you can now get every kind of food in Hull - for a good price too.

This blog though is going to focus on places selling homemade baked goods, of which I've sampled many both pre-lockdown and during. I'm sure there'll be some great places I've missed out though - so please let me know!

My Top Five:

1. Nibble

Nibble is Hull's favourite place to eat, and anyone walking past will know just how popular it is with queues outside their Fruit Market location every day. Before lockdown Nibble was the closest sandwich shop to my office, so I would often have lunch there and sometimes (well more often than I'd like to admit!) also pick up a cake, brownie or cookie. Nibble focuses on filling, wholesome, not overly complicated bakes - think tiffin, millionaire's shortbread and flapjacks, but they're all delicious. They also have a large selection of vegan cakes and savouries like sausage rolls. At the time of writing, they are open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for pre-ordering, collection and takeaway.

2. The Artisan Cafe and Art 

Artisan is a cafe located on Newland Avenue, but they also bake a lot of the cakes themselves as well as savouries such as quiches. They meet dietary requirements really well - my favourites are the diary and gluten free Black Forest cake and the vegan salted caramel cheesecake. Soooo good. They also provide delicious afternoon teas and themed goodies, I ordered an afternoon tea from there for Valentine's Day and it was delicious. At the moment they have been delivering and also open for collections, but it's best to check their social media to find out first.

3. Flour and Feast

Flour and Feast have been operating from Trinity Market from some time, but I never managed to visit before they relocated to Humber Street. Definitely some healthy competition for Nibble! Their pastries are divine, everything is cooked in house (you can see the bakers working) and I really want to try some of their delicious looking bread and brownies. It can be a little confusing as everything that's baked is put out in stages - I think pastries are ready first thing, then bread and cakes a little later on, so check the socials before making an (essential) journey. 

4. Hang Out Artisan Bakehouse 

I first read about Hang Out Bakehouse (a sister company of Hangout on Newland Ave) in the Hull Daily Mail and saw their instagram and really wanted to try it. The baked goods in their High Street based cafe are more 'New York' style I'd say - such as Magnolia style red velvet cake and giant cookies - but their savouries are also delicious. They sell bread loaves, and make sandwiches on homemade bread, with plenty of vegan options too. I've only been once but I'll definitely be visiting again from what I sampled!

5. Sweet Little Things Tearoom

I never got to go to the tearoom on Newland Avenue before lockdown but it looks really nice inside. They do delivery of breakfasts, cakes, lunches and afternoon teas and they are amazing - so delicious and so filling! You can easily eat afternoon tea for one between two. Their filled croissants, take out breakfasts and cheesecakes are all really good. You can either collect or have your order delivered locally for a small fee, seven days a week.

Honourable mentions: Places that are definitely well worth a try!

Alessandro's: Trinity Market's Italian eatery does lovely take out calzones and pasta bakes, but its cannoli and other Italian sweets and pastries are amazing.

TC Patisserie: Though based in Beverley, the authentic French pastries, tarts and patisserie here are well worth a visit (once allowed to travel). You can also purchase their goods outdoors and socially distanced at Cottingham market (Thursday) and Beverley Market (Saturday).

Cactus Cafe: My favourite Hull breakfast place, and closest to my flat haha, is Cactus Cafe, who also do lots of homemade cakes and vegan options. Though closed at the moment, I hope they re-open as soon as safely possible!

Revival Coffee and Donuts: Based on Ferensway, this city-centre eatery is well worth dodging Costa for. All completely vegan - I promise you, you will not be able to tell with their gigantic melt in the mouth doughnuts in all kinds of different flavours. Currently available for delivery locally from their website.

Karpaty Bakery: I first tried this Polish bakery when a colleague brought some speciality breads from there to the office, and have since been back to try doughnuts. There is a very nice looking cherry cheesecake I really need to try. With branches on Newland Ave, Holderness and Hessle Road and soon to be Chants Ave there's sure to be one within your daily walking distance!