The Bakehouse Co

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

This new venture by Patrick Crawshaw, an interior designer by trade, is a classy addition to the café/sandwich shop scene. It has the feel of a Victorian shop with old fashioned glass display cases, wicker baskets and a polished wooden floor. The approach, however, is bang up to date with an emphasis on local sourcing and produce with organic, fair-trade and free-range credentials. Part takeaway sandwich shop with half-a-dozen or so small tables squeezed in for those who want to sit in for breakfast, lunch or coffee, there are various touches that emphasise the thoughtful, quality driven approach. Soup, pies and sandwich fillings are made from scratch on the premises, the fillings laid out as if for a smart buffet (no plastic tubs in sight) with interesting components including salt beef, grilled halloumi and bean salad. Freshly baked cakes also veer towards the original, while for those sitting in a dozen different loose teas are served from silver pots. Altogether rather refined.

• High point: The classy touches such as silver teapots
• Low point: Unseemly competition for window tables