Hambleton Bakery Café

About Hambleton Bakery Café

Hambleton Bakery Café is a much-celebrated artisan bakery and café located in the heart of Oakham, Rutland's county town. Founded by Julian Carter in 2008, Hambleton Bakery has grown from a small village operation into one of the most respected artisan bakeries in the East Midlands, winning numerous Great Taste Awards and earning a devoted customer base that stretches well beyond Rutland's borders. The Oakham café is the flagship outlet, occupying an attractive premises on Gaol Street with warm lighting and a genuinely inviting atmosphere.

For dog owners visiting Oakham, the café is a natural stopping point. Dogs are welcomed in the courtyard seating area, which is sheltered and furnished with sturdy tables. Staff are attentive to four-legged visitors, with water bowls kept topped up and a cheerful welcome that makes dog owners feel entirely at ease. The location near the town centre means you can combine a visit with a browse around Oakham's independent shops or a stroll through the castle grounds.

What to Expect

The bakery's reputation rests on the quality of its bread, and rightly so. Sourdoughs, rye loaves, focaccia, and traditional farmhouse whites are all baked on site using traditional methods and carefully sourced flour. The pastry counter is equally impressive - croissants, pain au chocolat, Danish pastries, and fruit tarts are displayed with artisan care and taste every bit as good as they look.

Beyond the bakery counter, the café menu offers a well-judged selection of breakfast and lunch dishes. Eggs on toast with sourdough, filled rolls and sandwiches, quiches, and seasonal soups are all made using the bakery's own bread. The coffee is excellent, sourced from a quality roaster, and served with the same attention to detail as everything else. Cakes and traybakes round out the offering, with options changing regularly to reflect the seasons.

Location & Visiting

The café is situated on Gaol Street in Oakham, within easy walking distance of the castle, Cutts Close park, and the town's independent shops. Parking is available in Oakham's public car parks, the nearest being on Catmose Street, a short walk away. Oakham railway station is approximately ten minutes on foot. The café is open daily from early morning, with breakfast served from opening and the lunch menu running through to mid-afternoon. Takeaway bread and pastries are available throughout the day, and it is the sort of place where you linger over a second coffee and end up buying a loaf to take home.