A new study has named Sheffield as one of the best cities for independent bakeries.
If there's one thing we're good at in Sheffield, it's baking (and eating).
You really can't walk far in the city without stumbling upon a fantastic bakery, selling everything from fresh sourdough loaves and chewy cookies to plump donuts and flakey croissants.
Tonco Bakery on Sharrow Vale, Bakers Yard in Kelham, Forge Bakehouse on Abbeydale Road - we really are spoilt for choice, and that's only scratching the surface.
Images: The Sheff
And it's not just us who think so, as a new analysis from specialist insurer Hiscox discovered the leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries with Sheffield coming up trumps.
To identify the findings, Hiscox analysed OpenStreetMap bakery data and calculated the number of independent bakeries per 100,000 residents in each city.
The Steel City was found to have 12 independent bakeries per 100,000 residents, putting it level with Manchester and behind only Brighton, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
The leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries are:
Brighton (22)
Newcastle (16)
Edinburgh (16)
Sheffield (12)
Manchester (12)
Bristol (9)
Glasgow (9)
Cardiff (8)
Bradford (8)
Belfast (7)
Nick Thornhill, Direct and Partnerships Director at Hiscox UK, says: "It's great to see independent bakeries flourishing across so many UK cities. Whether it’s a fresh sourdough loaf on the way home or making a regular stop at a local bakery that’s become part of the community, consumers are increasingly seeking out high-quality, locally made products.
"However, strong demand is only part of the picture. As bakeries grow, owners also need to consider factors such as staffing, equipment, supply chains and cashflow management to ensure that growth is sustainable over the long term."
One of Sheffield's best independent cafes is opening another site in a prime location.
Founded in 2011 by Natalie and Jon Perry, Tamper set out to bring a slice of Kiwi cafe culture to Sheffield.
Inspired by time spent in Auckland, the pair wanted to replicate the same community feeling felt in New Zealand over great coffee, food and hospitality.
Located on Arundel Street in the city centre, Tamper offers fresh seasonal food in a quirky, laid back atmosphere. And not to forget, the incredible coffee.
Not just that, they also serve a selection of wine and beer, making it the perfect catch up with mates for lunch and not just breakfast.
Dishes include the Kiwi Breakfast featuring Yorkshire sausages and lime corn ribs, chicken and waffles and the stacked corn fritters drizzled with hot honey.
This isn't your average brunch spot, that's for sure.
It's been a staple for Sheffield city dwellers for over a decade now, and Tamper is now setting their sites on a second site on none other than Ecclesall Road.
Sharing the news to Instagram, the team posted a short clip of the new site with text stating: "Coming soon. Ecclesall Road."
Of course, in true Sheffied fashion, fans of Tamper are flocking to the comments to express their excitement. And we couldn't agree more.
That's all the limited information we've got for now, but we'll keep you updated as and when we find out about the specific location or opening date.
But for now, pop into their site on Arundel Street to see what's in store - because there's a lot to get excited about.
Sheffield has been crowned one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK
Clementine Hall
A new study has revealed Sheffield to be one of the most 'affordable' cities in the UK.
It seems like prices for everything across the UK are rising at the minute.
And one of the major things that keeps on rising is the cost of groceries in supermarkets, I mean - since when did a block of Lurpak cost £6?
But if you're a Sheffield dweller then you're in luck (and in the money), because according to a September 2026 report on affordability, Sheffield residents pay the least for groceries in the UK.
The new study by the delivery insurance provider Street Cover named UK cities where grocery shopping doesn’t strain budgets just yet, and Sheffield came up trumps.
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
Compared to the national average, groceries in Sheffield are the easiest to afford and in monetary terms, a basket full of groceries in Sheffield would currently cost £22.41.
Here's the top 10 most 'affordable' cities in the UK:
Sheffield
Milton Keynes
Liverpool
Reading
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Manchester
Leeds
Bristol
Cardiff
Southampton
Al Taylor, Head of Street Cover, commented on the findings: “Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below.
"Sheffield's position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options. The practical implication for household budgets is significant: the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Clementine Hall -
5th October 2026 
