Bread Ahead, Wembley

Since launching as a Borough Market stall in 2013, Bread Ahead has grown to become one of the best-loved bakery chains in London, thanks to careful steering from its founders Matthew Jones and Justin Gellatly (ex head baker at St John). Today, Bread Ahead has branches in Chelsea and Soho as well as the original in Borough Market, and is famed for its plump doughnuts, delectable sourdough loaves and array of top notch pastries, breads and filled focaccias.

Until now, though, Bread Ahead has offered little by way of a sit-in dining experience, channelling energies into catering for the grab-and-go culture instead (save for a scattering of chairs and tables). This is about to change, thanks to the opening of a Bread Ahead restaurant in Wembley in the early autumn of this year.

The new 220 cover restaurant – described by the company as a ‘drinking, dining and baking destination' – serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Among the items joining the bakery’s beloved loaves and doughnuts are a selection of sourdough pizzas (including a florentine and a spice sausage option); a house special of marinated roast chicken; and a selection of desserts, including a banana split, baked vanilla cheesecake and black forest gateau.

The site will be home to another Bread Ahead baking school, where two glass-fronted classrooms on the mezzanine floor overlooking the restaurant host workshops in everything from baking with sourdough to crafting Scandinavian pastries. The bakery-cum-restaurant is also expected to supply local businesses with freshly-baked goods.