Beyond Bread is a dedicated gluten free bakery with (currently) 2 branches in London. To date, I’ve only visited the Charlotte’s Place location.
On the first occasion I had a gluten free chocolate muffin to takeaway which was perfectly nice although a little dense inside. On the second occasion, I wanted to eat in and so had lunch at Charlotte’s Place.
This time I chose the quiche with a spinach and mushroom salad along with a cinnamon bun. Since it was a cold day, I took a tea as well.
The cost was £14.85 for the above.
The pastry on the quiche was firm and not at all crumbly. The cinnamon bun was good and I enjoyed this.
At the end of my lunch I asked whereabouts the toilets were. I was somewhat astonished to discover there is no toilet available to use at Charlotte’s Place.
Repeat: There is no customer toilet here. This is a cafe with – I guess – around 15 seats and there’s no bathroom for customers to use. Instead I was directed to use the facilities of other local businesses, something I declined to do.
Perhaps this seems like a negative thing to include in a blog post. Maybe it seems unnecessary to point out the lack of toilet facilities? But in all the blog posts I’ve read about this Beyond Bread location, I’ve never seen this highlighted before. Perhaps even this is a new thing? I don’t know. But I’m pointing this out as I wish I’d known in advance of visiting.
Locations: 2 Charlotte Place, London W1T 1SB and 267 Upper Street, London N1 2UQ
Website: www.beyondbread.co.uk
Cost: £ 14.85 for the meal above
Would I come back: Honestly? I think the food on offer here is good quality and I value the opportunity to eat at a dedicated gluten free bakery. However, I’m not sure I would go out of my way to visit again. I thought what I ordered was tasty but a little overpriced (I fully appreciate the cost of the Fitzrovia location is factored in to the prices here). However, the situation with no customer bathrooms will likely put me off from revisiting. I work in a different part of London so would ordinarily be looking to eat in at Beyond Bread when I’m in the West End, rather than takeaway. For me, it’s not a particularly appealing lunch knowing that I’ll need to find a public convenience to use after my lunch as the restaurant does not provide one.
PIN FOR LATER
Totally agree with you here the no bathroom would put me off as well especially if I had toddler in tow.
The meal does look nice but not £14.95 nice seems a little steep for what you get.
Author
Yes, totally agree with you about going there with kids. I was there alone on the last occasion when I ate in, but I definitely couldn’t go there with my twins who have fairly urgent needs for the toilet once they’ve decided they need to go!
I adore this place, especially the way the name their sandwiches, my favorite being the veggie ‘Bad Hunter’ (because the hunter failed to bring back meat, hooray).
If you do return, I have two tips!
1. Try the Carrot Cake or Cheesecake, both best in class, see bake off for evidence 🙂
http://foreverfreefrom.com/great-british-gluten-free-bake-off-1/
2. It is a shame about the lack of WC in the Charlotte Place venue, whereas the Islington venue is bigger with much more seating and a WC. My ‘solution’ when visiting Charlotte place is to visit the nearby Planet Organic on Tottenham Court Road and do some shopping at the same time.
Author
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I’m allergic to nuts so the carrot cake would be out for me. I don’t remember seeing the cheesecake when I visited (so I don’t know if it contains nuts). Good idea on the Planet Organic. I thought it was bad form for them to recommend local / competitor venues to use the toilet!
I think their cakes are fabulous, and the quiche was good too, but the sandwiches are quite dry. Good fillings, but just a bit much for me. I also agree about the lack of bathroom. Is that even allowed!? Luckily it’s near my office so it’s not such a huge issue for me, but it’d definitely put me off if I didn’t have that. I’m keen to try the Islington branch, seems promising.
Author
To be honest, I’m very surprised that it IS allowed for a venue with circa 15 seats not to have a customer toilet. But I guess it must be?