Our Story
A bakery born from a love of craft, comfort, and the belief that the simplest things deserve the most care.
It started with
a croissant.
In 2019, in a tiny rented kitchen with exactly one oven and more ambition than counter space, Zola Kitchen began. No signage, no bookings — just fresh pastries and word of mouth.
The idea was simple: make things properly. No shortcuts, no compromises, no “close enough.” Zola had spent years baking for friends and family — always with the same obsessive attention to detail.
Word spread. First through neighbours, then through the local market stall that became a weekend pilgrimage for people who really cared about their morning pastry. By the time the shop opened on Rosemary Lane, there was already a queue outside.
If it’s worth making, it’s worth making properly.
Zola, Founder
The kitchen grew.
The obsession didn’t.
Today, the kitchen is bigger, the team has grown, and the menu has expanded — but the philosophy hasn’t changed. Everything is still made by hand, every single day, with the same care that started it all.
Source the finest ingredients. Respect the craft. Let the oven do the talking.
From Scratch
No pre-mixes, no shortcuts. Every recipe starts with flour, butter, and patience.
Local First
Cotswolds flour, free-range eggs, and a coffee roaster we visit every month.
Made with Care
Every croissant shaped by hand. Every cupcake frosted individually. Every single day.
The things that matter.
Craft
No machines shape our croissants. No pre-mixes in our brownies. Everything by hand — from the first fold at 4am to the final dusting before we open.
Comfort
A warm cookie on a cold day. A matcha latte when you need calm. The smell of fresh bread as you walk in. Small moments of genuine comfort.
Ingredients
Flour from a Cotswolds mill. Free-range eggs from a farm we visit. Butter that costs more than it should. You can taste the difference.
Ritual
Some come for the coffee. Some for the almond croissant. One regular comes every Tuesday for the millionaire shortbread. We hope we become part of your week.