The two Greater Manchester bakeries famed for sourdough and croissants named best in Britain

They are both known and loved for their mouthwatering bread and pastry treats

Two Greater Manchester bakeries that have become famous for their sourdough loaves and mouth-watering pastries have been named in a list of the best artisan bakeries in Britain.

Lovingly Artisan in Altrincham has claimed the top spot in the prestigious "Bakers Dozen" list for 2025 - for the THIRD year in a row. It is joined in the rankings by Manchester's Pollen Bakery, that claims the number four spot in the list which is voted on by more 100 bakery specialists.

Lovingly Artisan, which has bases in Cumbria and at Altrincham Market, tops the list of 13 of the very best artisan bakeries in the British Baker vote.

Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor, the owner of Lovingly Artisan Bakery, said: ‘’Winning the number one spot again for the third year in a row is totally incredible. We are thrilled to be in the top 13, but to have your peers vote for you and recognise you as the UK’s top specialist sourdough bakery is a little overwhelming.

"Hopefully, everything we do for our customers has struck a chord and has begun to influence more and more artisan bakers up and down the country to put quality, wholesome, healthy bread at the centre of the dining table where it rightly belongs."

An artisan bakery is where baked goods - such as sourdough, bread, buns, pastries, cakes and more - are made by skilled bakers by hand, often utilising longer and more traditional processes. Quality of ingredients and the end products are high on the agenda, and as a result, artisan bakeries typically only have a handful of sites.

Pollen Bakery has soared up the rankings this year, and now has two city centre sites - one at New Islington and its second site at Kampus near Manchester Piccadilly. It has become renowned for its sourdough loaves, as well as it croissants and pastry confections including its coveted "Cruffin" - a croissant and muffin hybrid.

The Bakers’ Dozen was revealed this week at the third-ever meeting of The Artisan Collective, held at The Compound, in Birmingham, sponsored by Craggs & Co.

The Artisan Collective is an initiative created by British Baker, the leading source of information for the baking industry, to celebrate artisan bakeries and the people behind them while offering a platform to facilitate conversations and share skills.

When it came down to voting time for the Bakers’ Dozen the peer-led voting panel previously broken down into regions to ensure bakeries across Britain had an equal opportunity to shine were asked to cast their deciding votes.

Amy North, British Baker editor, added: ‘’It is testament to the endless enthusiasm and contagious passion that emanates from the team at Lovingly Artisan that it has been crowned the best artisan bakery in Britain for the third year running.

"This truly is an awe-inspiring achievement as it means that they have been recognised by fellow artisan bakers and industry experts as a shining example of this community.”

The 2025 Bakers’ Dozen in full

1. Lovingly Artisan, Cumbria & Manchester

2. Northern Rye, South Shields

3. Lannan, Edinburgh

4. Pollen, Manchester

5. Arôme, London

6. Bread Source, Norfolk

7. Levain & Cherry, Birmingham

8. Farro, Bristol

9. Pettigrew Bakeries, Cardiff

10. Gorse, Cornwall

11. Haxby Bakehouse, York

12. Bread Ahead, London

13. Fortitude Bakehouse, London