9 Must-Visit Bakeries in Newcastle Upon Tyne: A Local’s Guide to the Best Pastries & Sourdough

I love a good bakery, and when that bakery lives up to its reputation I love it even more. Newcastle Upon Tyne has quite a few excellent bakeries, and most are independent too. I find myself walking across the city to visit them and get a selection of what’s new that day. If you are looking for a nice bakery to visit in Newcastle Upon Tyne, read on for my guide to the best bakeries in Newcastle.

Also if you are here for a visit, weekend trip or new to the city, there are plenty of things to do in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and also the food scene is pretty incredible.

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Best Bakeries in Newcastle Upon Tyne

First, my approach to finding great bakeries.

Firstly Taste. I’m a sucker for a delicious cinnamon bun or delicious flaky buttery croissant, but their flavours have to live up to their reputation. I care more about how the food tastes than whether the bakery has an Instagram-worthy façade (although I don’t mind if it has both!).

Second, I’m a fan of bakeries that push the boundaries of flavours and textures. While classic sourdough is hard to beat, I love pastries that make me go “ooh, I’ve never seen one of those before”.

Third, I’m not trying to cover every single bakery in Newcastle. There are quite a few scattered around the city and its outskirts, but I’d be so full of butter and sugar I’d probably be unable to walk if I tried them all!

I’m sharing my list of places I love, and I’ll add to it as I discover more. You can bookmark this blog post or pin it on Pinterest so you can check back for easy reference.

1. Pink Lane Bakery

Locations: 40 Pink Lane (City Centre), Acorn Road (Jesmond), The Old Fire Station, Gosforth High Street
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm (times vary by location)

Pink Lane Bakery tops my list of the best bakeries in Newcastle. With three locations across the city, this artisan bakeshop has built a loyal following since opening in 2012. There’s a reason there are queues out the door on weekend mornings.

Their sourdough bread is excellent, with options including Pink Lane Sourdough, Seeded Sourdough, and Tyne Bridge Sourdough (around £3.90 to £4.10 per loaf). The bread is made using traditional techniques and you can taste the difference.

But what really makes Pink Lane special is their pastries. The almond croissants (£2.30) are flaky perfection, the cinnamon buns (£2.10) are generous and sticky, and their danishes come in different shapes and fillings that change with the seasons. I’m particularly fond of their fruit danishes.

Their savoury items are amazing. The sausage rolls are so nice here, both their meat and vegetarian sausage rolls. They’re made entirely from scratch with high-quality ingredients and flaky pastry. Each one costs around £4 to £5, and they’re best eaten hot. Their pies and pasties are excellent too.

The Jesmond location on Acorn Road has a sit-in café where you can enjoy sandwiches, toasties, and coffee along with your pastries. It’s a nice spot if you want to linger rather than just grab and go.

I recommend arriving early on weekends. Pink Lane is incredibly popular and their best items sell out quickly. The queues move fairly fast though, and the staff are always friendly and welcoming.

What to order: Almond croissant, sausage roll, any of their seasonal danishes
Price range: £2 to £5 per item

2. Northern Rye

Locations: 4 Riverside Walk, Ouseburn (Shop), Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, North Shields (Bakehouse with trade counter)
Opening hours: Ouseburn shop Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday 9.30am to 4.30pm; Bakehouse Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm

They are located in Newcastle’s creative Ouseburn area, Northern Rye creates small-batch artisan bread that’s become popular in the city. Started in 2017 by founder Robbie Livingston after he graduated from The School of Artisan Food, this bakery has grown steadily and moved to a much larger production facility in 2024.

Their sourdough is so good. Was told they use quality ingredients including Wildfarmed flour and Estate Dairy butter, and their sourdough proves for 12 to 28 hours, the breads have incredible flavour and texture. The country sourdough is their bestseller.

They also have cruffins which is a cross between a croissant and a muffin. The flavours rotate regularly, so there’s always something new to try. They’re flaky, soft and filled with various creams and flavours.

You should also get their almond croissants, cinnamon buns, pecan swirls, and baguettes.

The Ouseburn shop has a minimalist, Scandi-style café vibe that’s relaxed and unpretentious. They serve excellent coffee too. You can watch the bakers at work at their North Shields bakehouse if you visit the trade counter there.

What to order: Country sourdough, almond croissant
Price range: £2 to £5 per item, breads around £4 to £5

3. Midsommar Bakery (NEW – Grainger Market)

Location: Inside Grainger Market, Newcastle city centre
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday (check Grainger Market opening times)

Newcastle’s newest addition to the bakery scene, Midsommar opened at the end of November 2025 inside the historic Grainger Market. Founded by Swedish baker Nathalie Stern and Newcastle native Ben Dickenson, this bakery brings authentic Swedish fika culture to the North East.

If you’re not familiar with fika, it’s the Swedish tradition of taking a break with coffee and cake. It’s about slowing down and enjoying the moment, which is exactly what Midsommar encourages. This is possibly the first Swedish bakery and cafe in Newcastle.

Their cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) are oh my Goodness, possibly the best Cinnamon buns I have ever had!

Their buns are so soft, and cinnamon laced throughout, and the pictures probably don’t give it justice but it was so warm and delicious. I have yet to try their cardamon buns as I went on their opening day and the queue was already out of the door, and went back the next week and sold out by 3pm. They also make traditional Swedish pastries like prinsesstårta and semla (when in season).

They also provide smörgås (open sandwiches) feature fresh-baked bread with butter and various toppings. Everything is made in small batches and baked on site daily.

Just follow the smell of delicious bun wafting through the market, and you’ll find this cafe.

Since they’re brand new, expect some queues as word gets out. But if you want authentic Swedish pastries without flying to Stockholm, this is your spot. And even though they are brand new, their buns are divine and worth being on this list of best bakeries in Newcastle Upon Tyne. They are here to stay.

What to order: Cinnamon bun, cardamom bun, any of the smörgås and Princess cake!
Price range: £3 to £8

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4. Savour Bakery Café & Patisserie

Location: 205B Coatsworth Road, Gateshead NE8 1SR
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 10pm, Friday 8am to 3.30pm (closed Saturdays)

Technically in Gateshead rather than Newcastle, but it’s close enough and too good not to include. Savour opened in late 2024 and quickly became one of the most talked-about bakeries in the North East.

This place brings Parisian flair to the region with glossy pâtisserie, crisp croissants, and expertly layered gateaux. Head chef Stav Sadan and his team create everything from scratch, and you can see the kitchen through windows, which is spotlessly clean.

The New York croissant is layers upon layers of flaky pastry filled with chocolate. It’s decadent and delicious. Their pain au chocolat is equally excellent, with generous chocolate filling.

The berry macarons are so light and so good with delicious fillings. The lemon meringue tart is sublime.

On Fridays, they make a special strawberry and cream croissant that’s absolutely worth the visit. Fresh cream and strawberries with their excellent croissant pastry.

The space itself is sleek and modern with elegant interiors. It’s the kind of place that feels a bit special, but the staff are lovely and welcoming. They also serve fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches, and small-batch roasted coffee.

Savour has won awards including Craft Bakers 2025, which tells you everything about the quality here. Not the cheapest bakery around, but the quality justifies the prices.

What to order: In all fairness, anything you can get, as they get sold out fast but if you can get the New York croissant, any of the gateaux, lemon meringue tart
Price range: £3 to £8 per item

5. French Oven (Grainger Market)

Location: Inside Grainger Market, Newcastle city centre
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday (check Grainger Market opening times)

An independent artisan bakery located right inside Grainger Market, French Oven has been a favourite with locals for years. They combine French bakery techniques with British traditions, which means you get both beautiful croissants and excellent pies.

Their breads are baked fresh daily, including sourdough, focaccia, and various speciality loaves. The scones are lovely too, especially when they’re still warm.

But what really brings people back are their pies and pasties. Flavours include Ham and Egg, Chicken Balti, and Mediterranean Vegetables with Feta. Everything is made in-house with locally sourced ingredients where possible.

During lunchtime, customers rush to grab the last of their artisanal pies and cakes. If you want the best selection, get there before 1pm.

The prices are very reasonable for the quality. A pasty or pie costs around £2 to £3, which is similar to Greggs but with much better quality ingredients and taste.

Since French Oven is inside Grainger Market, you can easily combine your visit with sampling other food vendors there. Check out my complete Grainger Market guide for more recommendations.

What to order: Chicken Balti pie, any of the fresh breads, sausage roll
Price range: £2 to £5

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6. Pet Lamb Patisserie (Grainger Market)

Location: Inside Grainger Market (opposite French Oven), Newcastle city centre
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday (check Grainger Market opening times)

Another gem inside Grainger Market, Pet Lamb Patisserie started when Katie and Kay taught themselves to bake. “Pet Lamb” is a Geordie phrase for someone dear to you, which is a lovely name for a bakery.

Their small shop produces some of the most delicious sweet treats in Newcastle. The brownies are rich and fudgy, the cakes are moist and flavourful, and everything is baked on site daily.

The smell when you walk past their stall is dangerous. It draws you in and suddenly you’re buying three brownies when you only meant to get one.

They’ve built up such a following that they now deliver their products across the UK. That’s impressive for a small Grainger Market stall that started with two self-taught bakers.

The prices are very reasonable, around £3 to £5 per item. Perfect for treating yourself or picking up something sweet to take home.

What to order: Brownies, any of the seasonal cakes
Price range: £3 to £5

7. PureKnead Bakery

Locations: 38 Dean St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1PG (City Centre), 111 Park View (Whitley Bay), Gosforth High Street
Opening hours: City Centre – Tuesday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm, Saturday to Sunday 8.30am to 4pm; Whitley Bay – Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm; Gosforth – Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am to 3.30pm

PureKnead started at Tynemouth Market in 2015 and has grown into one of Newcastle’s most loved bakeries. Now with three locations, they’ve built a loyal following that stretches from Durham to Alnwick, with customers travelling from all over the region just for their bakes.

Their sourdough range is made using traditional techniques, taking 48 hours to make. They use only flour, water and salt with no additives or improvers. The seeded sourdough and Pugliese are particular favourites. The focaccia is heavenly and soft, the croissants are crispy and flaky, and the pain au chocolat is generous with chocolate filling.

Was very excited when they decided to open at Grey Street. Their offerings tend to change different days. They have the usuals but some of their sweet offerings change as I can see on some Saturdays when I come in.

Their chocolate tart is so incredibly rich and indulgent and beautiful. The cinnamon buns are excellent, and their sausage rolls are really good (so much meat, such flaky pastry). They also do brilliant sandwiches on freshly baked sourdough, which make for an excellent lunch, and they do deals during lunchtime on tuesdays.

They source their coffee from top UK roasters like Square Mile and Assembly, so you know the coffee is going to be excellent too.

The prices are very reasonable for the quality you’re getting, around £1 to £10 per person depending on what you order.

What to order: Seeded sourdough, chocolate tart, sausage roll, any of the croissants
Price range: £2 to £10

8. Proven Goods Co

Location: Unit 1 Maling Court, Hoults Yard, Walker Road, Ouseburn, Newcastle NE6 2HL
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am to 3pm

If you love doughnuts, you need to know about Proven Goods Co. Located in Hoults Yard just beyond the Ouseburn, this bakery has built quite a reputation since founders Amber and Joe Millar started from a market stall at Tynemouth in 2017.

Their handcrafted doughnuts are legendary. Each one is made fresh and from scratch early every morning, hand-rolled and triple-proven (slowly risen three times) for that perfect soft, fluffy texture. The monthly rotating menu means there’s always something new to try, using seasonal local ingredients where possible.

The classics are always available: jam-filled, vanilla custard-filled, and “The Homer” (a raspberry glazed ring doughnut with sprinkles). The seasonal flavours are where things get exciting. Think forced pink rhubarb in winter, strawberries and cream in summer, apple and spices in autumn. Recent flavours have included Banana Split (banana glaze, Nutella buttercream, hazelnuts and milk chocolate chips), Fudge Cream (Dorset clotted cream fudge with brown sugar fudge sauce), and inventive combinations that keep customers coming back.

Don’t expect fast food service though. These doughnuts take time to make, and queues are common, especially by 10.30am when people are often 20 deep waiting outside. But everyone agrees it’s worth the wait. The quality is exceptional and you can taste the care that goes into each one.

They also serve ethically sourced coffee, including great caramel lattes and matcha. There’s limited indoor seating, but there’s nice outdoor seating when the weather is good.

Because everything is made fresh with no artificial preservatives, they recommend eating them on the same day for maximum soft, fluffy deliciousness. They’re so successful now that they supply doughnuts to numerous coffee shops around Newcastle and make monthly appearances at Fenwick’s Food Hall.

Parking is free for the first hour at Hoults Yard, then £1 for another 2 hours (camera-operated by Parking Eye). Gift vouchers are available if you want to treat someone to doughnuts and coffee.

What to order: Any of the monthly special flavours, The Homer, vanilla custard filled
Price range: £3 to £5 per doughnut

9. Big River Bakery

Location: 42 Wretham Place, Shieldfield, Newcastle NE2 1XU
Opening hours: Check their social media for current times

Big River Bakery is more than just a bakery, it’s a social enterprise passionate about community. They use baking to bring people together and support local initiatives, which makes supporting them feel even better.

Their “Power of the Stottie” campaign launched in 2022 continues to raise money for positive social change. For those not familiar, a stottie is a traditional North East flatbread that’s soft, doughy, and perfect for sandwiches. Big River makes excellent ones.

Their sourdough is fermented for over 24 hours, their baguettes are the real deal, and their Danish pastries are dangerously addictive. They’re champions of local ingredients and seasonal specials, so there’s always something new.

They also offer Stottie-making courses, which is a fun experience if you want to learn traditional North East baking. The courses are about 2 hours and include all ingredients and full instructions.

What to order: Stotties, sourdough bread, Danish pastries
Price range: £2 to £5

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More Newcastle Upon Tyne Travel and Food Adventures:

Want to explore Newcastle’s food scene further? Here are some guides that might help:

30 Places to eat in Newcastle Upon Tyne City Centre 2025 : Street food, vegan, kid friendly, buffets, Michelin, carvery places in Newcastle City centre

Complete Guide to Grainger Market : Deep dive into Britain’s Favourite Market with all the best food vendors

25 Things to Do in Newcastle Upon Tyne : My complete guide to the city including more food recommendations

Newcastle Match Day Guide : Where to eat and drink before NUFC matches (trust me, you need this)

Things to Do in Tynemouth : Including Riley’s Fish Shack, one of the best seafood spots in the North East

Climbing up Grey’s Monument : Climbing Grey’s Monument: Is it worth it and the Costs?

Riley’s Fish Shack Review: The Famous Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth: Is it worth it?

If you’re visiting from abroad, grab an eSIM before you arrive so you can easily look up bakery opening hours and directions while you’re exploring.

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Bakeries in Newcastle Upon Tyne

There are plenty more bakeries scattered around Newcastle and the wider North East, but these are the nine I’ve fallen in love with and frequent as most of these bakeries are in Newcastle city centre. I hope you find them as delicious as I do.

If you want more food inspiration, take a look at my guides to the best restaurants in Newcastle and where to eat at Grainger Market.

Courtney xx

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