Think the French have got the monopoly on bread-making? Then you clearly haven’t visited Two Magpies Bakery yet – a little slice of British bread-making heaven in East Anglia, where you can eat and buy the most delicious cakes, pizzas, pastries and, of course, bread in inventive flavours like smoked cheddar, jalapeno chilli & polenta sourdough; spelt, chia & flax; garlic olives & zesty lemon ciabatta; and malted triple chocolate sourdough. Take that boring old baguette!

The talented team behind the award-winning artisan bakery are up at the crack of dawn to create a whole host of freshly baked goods every single day. Sourdough is incorporated into all of the breads to give them a bigger flavour and that wonderful chewy texture, and many of the breads, including the Olive Oil Ciabatta and the Raisin and Rosemary have won World Bread Awards. If you’re after something a little sweeter, the choice is out of this world, with everything from cinnamon swirls and almond croissants to rosewater & pistachio meringues and Adnams Broadside bread pudding.

There are plenty of places to get your hands on some of these delicious baked goods. Two Magpies now has four beautifully-decorated bakeries – the original shop and café on Southwold High Street (just look for the queue spilling out the door on sunny weekends!), as well as a branch in Aldeburgh, one in Darsham, which is also home to the Bake School (more on that later) and a new site on Timberhill in Norwich.

New Norwich Café

Two Magpies Bakery has recently spread its wings and flown from its Suffolk Coast nest to make a home in the city too, with the opening of a Norwich café in February 2020 – a stand-alone site providing daily fresh Sourdough bread, viennoiserie, cakes and a delicious brunch menu. Everything is freshly made on-site using high quality ingredients, plus there are plenty of vegan and gluten free options. And, if you’re a coffee connoisseur, you’ll not be disappointed, as all Two Magpies bakeries serve delicious Allpress Espresso.

Celebration cakes

There’s more exciting news this year for the bakery too, as they’re taking on a new site in Darsham in April to make more space for their bakery masterclasses. Darsham is also the place to go if you’re after a celebration cake, because the team are now taking cake commissions for weddings and celebrations.

The Bake School

Once you’ve tasted the produce, you’ll want more and more, and the good news is you can learn the secrets of the Two Magpies’ incredible recipes. Owner and founder Rebecca has recently started imparting her baking wisdom at informal masterclasses for home bakers at the Darsham site, starting with Introduction to Sourdough Baking, Dedicated to Doughnuts and Two Magpies Pizza Masterclass. You can also book private classes, which would make a wonderful idea for a hen do or a birthday.