The lack of bakeries in the broader neighbourhood is a regular topic of conversation among you lot. Why isn’t there, for example, one to serve newly-arrived Frentishtowners? What on earth happened to the ill-named (and shortly-lived) La Bonn Patisserie? Why didn’t Mike (next to E.Mono) quite pan out as expected?
Anyway, with the return of the British Bake Off and the weather surely about to turn, all we really want is to sink a hunk of fresh bread in a thick butternut squash soup. And now the inhabitants of Tufnell Park can do just that – because Bunny Little’s Bakery has just hopped into the manor.
And to prove it, a big pink neon sign – Food is my Fashion – lights up the back wall, Tracey Emin-style, a nod to this local girl who’s swapped magazines for artisan bread and cupcakes. “I fancied a change,” she says, “and this spot around the corner from my house came up. I’ve always loved food and baking.”
We popped by yesterday to find a gaggle of yummy mummies outside the candy pink-fronted caff basking on white tolix chairs, perfectly positioned for the matinal sun. And Katy too was beaming with pride: “We’re supposed to shut at 7 – but everything sells out by 5pm.”
That’s no surprise considering head chef Guilia Geminan – previously of the The Langham and quite excellent Princi in Soho – bakes fresh loaves, every morning, from focaccia to ciabatta. Then there are pastries and cupcakes, using locally sourced organic ingredients. And familiar face Craig, formerly of the Junction Tavern (so popular that Giles Coren even bemoaned his absence from the pub on Twitter) gives her a hand front of house.
First impressions? We enjoyed a deliciously crispy and not-too-sweet almond croissant, and a tangy apricot pastry, all washed down with a creamy Union latte. “We’re not like any of the chains,” says Katy. “We want to offer something locals will love on their way to work or on the school run.”
I took a box of cupcakes back to the office which we all shared after lunch, while discussing (perhaps high on sugar) whether the perennial pop-up faves have had their moment or not. Whatever, these were colourful, glittery and extremely sweet, the almond variety the clear favourite (although chocoholics will be happy, too).
What else? Well, with pumpkin-carving lessons and plans for a gift shop-cum-deli “so people can grab a bottle of wine on their way to a dinner party”, Bunny Little’s Bakery – along with the much-loved Tavern, Eeny Meeny and that, er, rather posh new “Budgens of Tufnell Park” – is making what estate agents must surely be now calling Campdale Road Village (ouch!) quite sparkly.
45 thoughts on “What’s Bunny Little’s Bakery all about then?”
I shall miss Flavours as it saved me having to cook my own tea every day, but I wish this new pink enterprise the very best and look forward to sampling their pain au chocolat over the weekend. The new Budgens is an eyesore filled with trash and ruins the feel and look of the road. Hideous, just hideous.
I’ll miss Flavours too! And agree about Budgens. To be honest, I found this venture a bit out of place here. Bit overpriced too. I get the feeling the owner wants to play ‘shop’ and has the cash to do it-if so, hopefully the prices will come down a bit! Good luck Bunnies.
I am sure you are right….the owner can afford to hire a baker and a manager, rent premises and not give a hoot about the price of the goods being sold or whether the venture is a success or not! How much less do you want to pay for a loaf of bread made by a bloke who clearly knows what he’s doing?
Not Campdale Road Village – Camprovia. Do keep up, Jerry.
Sorry to be a spoil spot but this really isn’t Kentish Town.
You’ll be reviewing St Pancras’s offerings as a part of KT next!
Stay focussed
This is a (hyper)local blog for (hyper)local people…
A bit harsh on Budgens. It’s a franchise owned by the same family who ran the Costcutter corner shop there before – I don’t really see the difference between them saving up and expanding their business and Katy following her dream of opening a bakery?
Yes but neither are appropriate for area. Well, Budgens size is a bit excessive. The bakery needs to be in Primrose Hill or something. It’s totally out of place and it’s doomed once the novelty wears off-especially in that pokey part of Tufnell Park-sorry owners! Say goodbye to cash, but appreciate what you have tried to do.
Agreed. Bit poncy and dead expensive. Don’t anticipate longevity.
PS I like the Budgens!! More useful then an overwrought bakery!
I see no problem with Budgens, to be honest. The family have been trading in the spot for years and frankly it’s not like many other businesses were knocking on the door of the derelict Ladbrokes…
And for Bunny’s bakery, well. Hmm. A proper bakery would have been nice. This appears to be all rabbit fur coat and no knickers. Hideously twee, horrible, garish signage, obviously aimed at vacant, cash-rich, so-called ‘yummy mummies’ (vomit). I mean, glittery cupcakes? For over 2.50 a pop? Have a word. So SO disappointing. Having a baby does not equal having a lobotomy. Are all females meant to automatically respond to that shade of pink? Do we all give a crap about being ‘fashionable’ and buying cute ickle wickle things and raaaaaaaaargh! Also, do men not enjoy cake? Sorry. It’s upsetting.
Saying that, I wanted Flavours to work but they didn’t *really* try hard enough I don’t think – simple changes like getting rid of the strip lighting and cooking more than those uninspiring faux-moroccan pastries, maybe… Oh I don’t know, it’s obviously tough times for small businesses so maybe I’m being a bit keyboard warrior about it.
And Tuffers isn’t pokey! We have parks and nice people. Not as many bearded young men on Penny Farthings, granted.
That is much better than the original review
Oh I feel maybe I went a bit OTT with my previous comment. Re; Bunny Bakery. The general design of it *is* a bit garish (a lot of local people agree) but it’s really easily remedied. And the cakes might be nice to be fair – I don’t know. Why not paint the sign a nice light grey or sage, simple white letters… ditch the dead-eyed rabbit and the ‘fashionista’ stuff. It would make it a bit more welcoming to a broader spectrum of people and therefore hopefully thrive as a small business. Good luck to them, regardless.
Jessica S
I love this new addition to my neighbourhood and the stylish, quirky look of the place and I am not a ‘yummy mummy’! There are plenty of cafes in London painted with grey, sage tones and nice white lettering – who needs more of the same? This fun new bakery is a breath of bright and cheerful fresh air to start my day with the best croissants I have found in a long time and the most delicious coffee. The prices are in tune with everywhere else I shop. I am surprised at other locals judging a new business venture clearly without having spoken to the owner. I took the time to have a chat with the charming Katy, who very clearly gives more than a ‘hoot’ about the pricing, serving the neighbourhood and creating a warm and inviting space in the community. We need to support our local businesses!
I’m not greedy: I’ll take what I can get. And the idea that I was able to pick up a still steaming, buttery croissant with a punchy Union flat white on my dash to the station is fantastic and a refreshing addition to that strip, pink sign or not. Who cares about the bunnies? Or the pink?
People these days. Always looking for something to whinge about.
It’s lovely having a pain au chocolate, a £5 unleavened olive and undried tomato focaccia and £2.50 cupcake, but sometimes some of us just need an affordable loaf of bread to slap together a sandwich for lunch or to satisfy the kids cravings for toast and marmite. When you’re going through near on a loaf a day you just want a decent, middle ground traditional bakers otherwise you’re ending up at Budgens. I’ll have a stroll to Dylan’s in Queens Cresent to get a decent sliced bloomer for £1.50 that I know was made that morning – even Greggs (shock horror) above a supermarket sliced loaf, but for most mum and dads I know in the area they crave a ‘normal’ bakers. Or greengrocer etc.
I will add that Budgen’s in Belsize Park has made a massive effort to support local producers – Belsize Park made chocolate, teas, coffees, they even used to get bread from Dunn’s in Crouch End (my old local) – so hopefully the one in Tufnell Park will be similar.
Stagnells – much closer on Junction Rd. Their is room for everyone.
I think Bunny Little’s Bakery is so lovely. The selection and quality are fantastic and the decor is gorgeous. I personally love the neon sign and you really get the feeling that someone has put their soul in to this little cafe.
I think its so sad that the comments above don’t really seem to demonstrate the previous statement of Tuffnell Park being filled with ‘nice people’ when no one seems to be able to say anything nice about this lovely ladies new business. The prices don’t seem to be any different from other Artisan bakeries, and I bet they don’t have a baker previously from the Langham! The decor is really cool and clearly fits with the owners previous career, and why not?
One of the promises on Bunny Little’s website is to support local businesses. Its a shame the other residents don’t feel the same way. Clearly a lot of care and effort has gone into this new bakery and I cant wait to go back.
Good luck Bunny.
As I said, good luck to it regardless.
As I said, I hope they thrive as a small business.
And I think it’s reasonable to judge the appearance of a shop without speaking to the owner! It’s what we all do… I don’t think we have to have a chat with the owner of every shop we go into.
Look, it’s a bold visual statement and as such it is bound to polarise opinion. I’m sure the owner knows this and can take it on the chin.
I just don’t like twee pinky pink stuff and am no convinced many locals do either. Expressing that opinion – when invited to on a forum such as this – is not ‘whinging’.
We can have an opinion and still wish the business well. Have no desire to see any small business suffer but I am entitled to have a view on it.
Support your local businesses – spend money there!
Absolutely love Bunny Littles! It’s an amazing asset to the local area providing not only amazing croissants and coffee but also outstanding pizzas (believe it or not), all for a very affordable price! The bakery itself is stylish and trendy which is a breath of fresh air! No one wants the same old bakery popping up! Well Done Bunny Little!!
Affordable!? Can I earn your wage please?
I think its a great idea. This is the only place to buy a decent loaf in the area. I find it hilarious that even after all the improvements in the area, you still get some old grumps wanting to ruin it for everyone else. Why not enjoy having such a nice area rather than moan about changes that MUST happen? I mean other than Budgens, its been a useless row of shops for god knows how long.
Blimey. Should have called it Marie Antoinette’s
LOUTH OUT LOUD at the owners friends rallying round and leaving scintillating reviews!
I went in there on Saturday. The flat white was nice, the cupcake was delicious. I didn’t like the bright pink, but frankly I’d prefer a place that does good food and drink but looks a bit garish to one that looks fine but does poor stuff. The appearance is all down to individual preference – quality of the product is not. I’ll certainly be going again.
Not sure what type of people have the time or desire to put down such an awesome new place – especially in our neighbourhood. Maybe i’m biased because I love all things pink, but every time i’ve been here everything has been delicious (including the coffee and i’m a pretty harsh critic).
Surely in times like these we should be encouraging such enterprising young people rather than crushing their spirit!? Bunny Little I for one am a huge fan – here’s to you and many more BL’s popping up around town soon.
What the hell does ‘LOUTH’ mean, Donna????
My tuppence. Slightly suspicious positive reviews suddenly appearing PR/media background gobbledygook. Isn’t the owner an ex editor…?
Anyway, decorated like a child on LSD. Not good/slight eyesore. Priced like its in Soho/Hamstead/United Arab Emirates. Let’s be honest-food nice-NOTHING SPECIAL.
I feel a fail coming on, unfortunately.
I don’t want to upset the owner personally and I think it’s very sweet that her friends have stuck up for her!
However, business thrive and grow by evolving and observing.
My criticisms may be irrelevant. But there will always be people who criticise. Some of this can be constructive and in the long run, lead to great success. It is not always wise to blindly ignore opinions you happen to disagree with…
Some hilarious comments above about ‘ruining it for everyone else’… um, HOW? Go there and buy stuff! I’m happy for you! I’m happy for the owner and any satisfied customers! I was merely pointing out that I felt it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
I may be proved wrong in time. I hope to be.
Let them eat cake.
“Craig, formerly of the Junction Tavern (so popular that Giles Coren even bemoaned his absence from the pub on Twitter)”
Oh – we assumed he meant Albert? (who’s missed too)
…and Jess is going too!
James L
I popped in there on Saturday with my family and the place was packed and with a constant queue. It looks like they are ‘feeding’ (sorry for the pun) a lot of unsatisfied demand in the area. Good luck to them. Plus the cakes were very nice indeed.
If anyone thinks they can setup in competition to do it better and cheaper then go ahead. I imagine a lot of work (and investment) has gone into it though. Good luck to them.
Tufnell Parkers, remember every Saturday you can buy amazing, delicious bread from Aston’s Organic Bakery outside the Tufnell Park Tavern.
The bread is by far the best thing in the shop. The coffee is good too.The cakes have too much refined flour and sugar in them for my taste (but then I like the stuff you can hardly lift that Earth sell). It is a bit too pink and ‘fashion’ for most I fear.
As for Budgens, it isn’t as good as it was as Londis. It is all big bands now and far too bright.
The ‘farmers’ market on Saturdays is the best thing that has happened round here for years.
Fucks sake, it’s a cake shop. That part of Tufnell Park was no-go 15 years ago, it’s incredible what’s happened here and should be encouraged.
Damn Right. It would be a shame if every spot was utilitarian and cookie-cutter…there’s bugger all in Tufnell Park, decent spot as it is. This is a step forward, even if you find it a tad irritating in execution and 20% too expensive.
2nd the Aston’s Organic Bakery shout out. Much nicer than the bread at the bunny place and much better prices.
Lovely staff too.
I think the bunny place is a bit flashy. I’m highly amused by their mission statement of sourcing local organic products hilarious, bordering on ridiculous as try as hard as I might, I can’t remember trudging past any farms/flour mills etc on my way to the tube.
SO PRETENTIOUS!
I agree with Emily. I had high hopes but I have very high expectations and bunnys didn’t meet them. Kate was a delight and I really wanted to have a good experience. I’m totally in favour of local business and new exciting opportunities but I find bunnys to be all style and no substance. I don’t want to feed my kids pink cupcakes with iced turds on top ( and I’m definitely a yummy mummy!! ) just want a delicious cake and a nice simple loaf of bread. Also the coffee is not very good -go to the coffee Warehouse place in K town. I hope my comments aren’t construed as rude- bunnys just isn’t for me, and that’s a shame.
I agree with the comment about too much refined flour and sugar, having tried the cupcakes and coffee and walnut cake. There was not as much variety as you enjoyed with Flavours and all I want is some nice cake to go with my cup of tea. I don’t want to make a fashion statement, I want something tasty. Having said that, I am sure that the bakery will find its niche and refine and develop what it has to offer.
All I know is I’ve put on a few kilos since Bunny Little’s came to the area! I think Katy’s fresh new vision for all things baked is brill and it goes without saying that what she serves up is delicious! Now I just need to also add the gym into my daily routine……..
What an utterly overpriced dirty place this is. It’s vile. The staff ignore customers and refuse an even slight nod of the head, let alone a polite hello. If you are fortunate to even get served (twice I have been ignored for over five minutes and had to leave) then you pay roughly £3 for a cupcake that is bland (we threw the base away after licking the icing). Having five minutes of being ignored allows you to look at the floor and corners, covered in coffee stirrers and crumbs, then over the counter to a weird greasy slop!
To say the background of the owner you’d expect much better! Way to trash your reputation. Me? Pretty much the target audience, so I dread to think how they treat people not quite to their liking!
What about Yeast of Eden in York Rise? Amazing artisanal bread and coffee – I recommend the foccaccia and schwarzbrot. Beck, Beth Orton, Chris Thile, Yo Yo Mar and Jack White have all played acoustic sets on the small stage in the corner and G Coren got banned after losing his flimsy temper for perhaps the thousandth time over the froth on his macchiato and sub editors. House prices rose and knickers dropped and everyone abandoned their partners, careers and kids just for the sheer hell of it and cupcakes. Cos it’s N London innit? Meanwhile you can get stabbed and a vast loaf of delicious Turkish bread on Junction Rd for £1.60. Just sayin.
Terribly loud music all day on the weekend its horrid. The bread is nice but neither the bread or the pastries are made on the premises (not sure how they can be called a bakery) food just sits there all day without covers (hello food poisoning!) The man that works in the shop is never friendly and a few times whilst sitting in I’ve heard him be bossy and horrible to the girls working there. This used to be my friends and my local coffee shop but I’ll stick to the tavern now.
A lovely girl gave me a phamplet about this cute little bakery. I do agree about the sugar comments some healthy options would be nice.The two antipodean girls that were there when i visited are lovely and I had a delicious coffee and bought some bread, although this isn’t made on the premesis. It would be great to have some more usual options like rolls and fresh eggs instead of the expensive deli items. I’m not sure how well this place is going to go. It seems quiet most of the time.
Sent Bunny Little’s a comment via their website to query why their carrot cake portions were so small. I am not a beast, I finished this “slice” of cake in three small bites. It’s been a week and there has been no response. As a regular, I feel aggrieved. I don’t think this woman really cares to run a profitable bakery that serves the area’s needs. This bakery the most disappointing in Tufnell Park since I’ve lived here.