Birmingham’s Levain & Cherry named among best Artisan Bakeries in UK

French artisan bakery, Levain & Cherry, have two sites in Birmingham and was featured at number seven in the British Baker’s ‘Baker’s Dozen’ – the top 13 artisan bakeries in the country.

Their popular sites in Kings Heath and Stirchley have catapulted them to national recognition, with the bakery’s director, Pascal Bishop, saying it was a “complete shock” to even make the list, let alone break the top 10.

He said: “This is such a huge achievement, not just for me but for the entire team at Levain & Cherry.

Levain & Cherry ranked at number 7 out of the top 13 (Image: Levain & Cherry) “Every day, we put our heart and soul into making sure our bread and pastries are the absolute best they can be. Seeing that hard work recognised on a national scale is truly incredible.

“At the end of the day, our biggest reward is happy customers, but this recognition is like the cherry on top—it means that what we do has been acknowledged beyond Birmingham and by experts in the field of artisan baking.

“We're humbled to make the list with other bakeries which I know well and have a huge respect for.”

As the name suggests, the majority of the bakery’s produce is made with levain (a type of sourdough) and it only uses French organic flours from Moulin Viron, a family flour mill located just outside of Paris.

The bakery specialises in French breads, baguettes, and pastries with unique twists and offers its customers the experience of seeing how the bread is made in-house from start to finish.

Pascal, who took inspiration for Levain & Cherry from the years he spent growing up in France, said he hopes this recognition is just the start of whats to come for the beloved bakery.

He said: “We’re absolutely over the moon and so excited for what’s ahead.

“Hopefully, this is just the beginning, and we can continue to grow, bringing authentic French artisan baking to even more people.”

Director, Pascal Bishop, said seeing the team's hard work pay off is truly incredible (Image: Levain & Cherry) Speaking on this year’s top 13, British Baker’s editor, Amy North, said: “Each of the 13 bakeries on the list has been recognised by industry experts and their peers as a beacon of dedication, passion, and skill, as demonstrated through lovingly handcrafted products and by the people who make them.

“It’s wonderful to see such a diverse range of bakeries nominated with their locations spanning the length and breadth of Britain, from Cornwall to Edinburgh, Cardiff to Birmingham, and several in London.

“What this means is that communities across the nation have the opportunity to support their local bakeries and treat themselves to some fantastic baked goods in the process.”

Taking the top spot for 2025 was Lovingly Artisan, an independent bakery near Kendal on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria.