Posted by
Emma White
This will be an entirely bespoke concept for the property at 84 High Street, formerly a Russell & Bromley shoe shop, designed around the town and the people who live, work and visit there.
The company, which now has a collection of more than 80 high end bakeries across the UK, will be bringing its distinctive signature approach to freshly baked food, exceptional coffee and genuine hospitality to the heart of the town.
Internally, the property will seat up to 66 guests at any one time. More than 15 year-round local jobs will be created, and the new team will also be supporting the Guildford community through a partnership with a local charity, to be selected soon after opening by the new team.
The vision for Guildford is a contemporary bakery that celebrates the meeting of old and new. Behind the building's historic Georgian exterior, a crisp, elegant and modern interior will create an unexpected contrast, bringing together the character of the past with the energy of a contemporary working bakery. It is a space designed to feel both like a sanctuary from the bustle of the High Street and a lively, welcoming place where people, coffee and freshly baked pastries come together throughout the day.
The new space has been thoughtfully designed, with a mixture of intimate seating areas, benches and comfortable corners. Light, bright and welcoming, it will offer somewhere to settle into a comfortable armchair and spend an hour enjoying a coffee and pastry, as much as somewhere to meet friends, gather around a table or stop off during a busy day.
At the heart of the space will be a fully open working bakery, bringing the craft of baking into full view. Fresh pastries will be baked every morning, with the sights, sounds and energy of the bakery becoming part of the experience. A large table will offer a place for people to come together, with the potential to host workshops and community gatherings, helping the bakery become a genuine part of Guildford life.
The interior celebrates a dialogue of contrasts - the harder, industrial elements of a working bakery softened by natural materials, warm whites and carefully considered lighting. Natural timber, softly toned tiles, brushed stainless steel and rich leather seating will sit alongside carefully selected furniture, distinctive lighting and artwork. A feature tiled wall and tiled counter frontage will add texture and architectural interest, while the overall palette remains restrained, modern and elegant.
Outside, the building's existing dark bronze shopfront framework is being retained and complemented by understated new signage. The large windows will give passers-by a view of the bakery's wholesome displays, opening up the once traditional retail space to the life and energy within, and creating a welcoming connection between the bakery and the High Street.
Carrara marble countertops will showcase Cornish Bakery's range of handcrafted products, including its award-winning pasties and sausage rolls, alongside daily crafted and baked viennoiserie, pastries and cakes.
Other product highlights include the Lemon Meringue Croissant, inspired by the classic dessert and filled with smooth cream cheese and rich yuzu cream, the indulgent Chocolate, Banana and Peanut Butter Pastry, inspired by Head of Proposition and Product Arnaud Kaziewicz's MasterChef: The Professionals creation; and the Orange and White Chocolate Chai Bun.
The food is complemented by exceptional coffee, developed in partnership with fellow Cornish business Origin Coffee, alongside premium teas, ceremonial-grade matcha and a carefully considered drinks collection.
Cornish Bakery Managing Director Mat Finch said,
“We're incredibly excited to be coming to Guildford. We felt the town needed somewhere light, bright and welcoming, where you want to settle into an armchair and spend an hour enjoying a coffee and pastry.”
“We don't believe in cookie-cutter bakeries. What I love about Guildford is the contrast between the beautiful historic building and the modern, elegant space inside, with all the theatre and energy of a working bakery at its heart. We want this to be somewhere people feel genuinely connected to, a real beating heart of the High Street.”
A perfect breakfast, lunch or afternoon stop off for shoppers, visitors and residents alike, the Guildford Bakery Manager and team will be ready to welcome customers from 7am to 5pm every day of the week from November 25th.