Cakes & Savouries To Die For. The Steak & Kidney Pie is so Good it should be illegal! I am so lucky to live so close to my all time favourite Bakers. There is always a vast selection of mouth watering cakes and savouries. Served with a smile by the lovely staff, beautifully displayed and presented. Ayers has such a good reputation that it reaches customers all over London. For lunchtime there is a terrific selection of hot and cold options including soup, pies, sandwiches, baguettes, quiches ( one of my hot faves ) and much more. The vast bread selection is MAGNIFICENT and you can for sure ‘taste the difference.’ You can also place orders for cakes to suit every occasion, Birthdays Weddings and Anniversaries. Ayers can also supply for special events. Ideal For Gifts! There is also an abundant selection of locally sourced jams, marmalades, honey, and fruit juices. Quite often there are tasters you can try – I always do! Well I am saving the BEST until LAST! In my 59 years never have I tasted a better Steak & Kidney Pie – made to a unique secret recipe, these pies are so good they should be illegal, supplied in a foil surround, more often the delicious content pours out, well this is what fingers are made for FINGER LICKING GOOD! If you have not yet had the Ayers Experience - If I have got your taste buds excited, get your roller skates on!

The next on the list of the cronut was Ayres the Bakers down in Peckham which was brought to my attention by the lovely Teresa C so I dragged myself out of bed at 6am this morning for a quick ride down to the bakery. As with all good bakeries, there are more items on offer than you can eat - that being said it's tempting to give it a go and stuff everything down your gullet. I was in luck as they were quite literally just putting the finishing touches on them and the delightful lady at the counter ducked into the back and packed four of them into a box for me. The cronuts are doughnut shaped with clearly defined flaky layers of pastry and dusted with a deliciously unhealthy amount of powdered sugar and stuffed with a very generous amount of custard. The cronut was light and fluffy as all good cronuts should be and the custard fresh with hints of vanilla. And it's massive, easily the biggest cronut in London that I've tried so far. Despite the blanket of powdered sugar, it wasn't too sweet which means it makes a perfect breakfast pastry - so I proceeded to demolish one myself for brekkers. Oh, and at £1.30 a cronut, these are the new best value ones on the crawl.

This bakery concerns me a bit with the lack of hygiene preparations only carried out by select staff members. Most of the time when frequenting this shop, the workers would be wearing hairnets etc. However, there is one staff member, an older lady with long hair, that I’ve never seen wear one. This is very worrying considering her hair could easily fall into the food and I don’t think this sets a very good example to the other members of staff. I always would wait make sure to wait until a staff member with a hairnet is free before I purchased and would thoroughly inspect the good just incase as this concerned me so much. On every occasion where I’ve ever purchased items with icing they’ve come in small, thin, awful paper bags which just led to the icing sticking everywhere any making a mess. Surely it just makes more sense to just put them in boxes? Other than this the staff are always friendly to me, especially the younger staff, and the food does taste nice. I wish the other problems didn’t occur otherwise I would still shop here today.

My family have been going to Ayres for over 25 years. We always bought our birthday cakes from there. We’ve seen it change in style during that time. There was a definite period where the quality dipped. I visited the bakery and was told (very curtly) they don’t do birthday cakes - which is fair enough. Their produce looks much better in quality now. However; it’s such a stressful and chaotic experience buying anything in there. I did not enjoy choosing cup cakes for my son’s birthday at all. I felt so rushed and fellow customers were bumping into each other. The staff can’t hear you and you find yourself shouting (over the food on display- not the most hygienic). I left feeling really flustered and not like I had the change to make a decision. It’s not just regular Saturday business. It was like this mid week too. I think a better system needs to be in place so people can enjoy and actually think before they buy- it’s not cheap in there! Such a shame. Resident of Nunhead.

Absolutely love this place. My mum used to buy me frog cakes here when I was a child. As an adult, me and my waistline can fully appreciate this place. I love the way they have moved with the times. The range of food you can purchase from Ayres is wonderful. You can still be indulgent with their devine pastries, however, you can also be completely healthy with their smoothies and organic healthy products. The salt beef sandwich they do for lunch is my particular weakness and very popular. I love the fact that everything is baked onsite, the taste of their bread and croissants are unmatched by any other establishment. The staff are extremely friendly, professional and polite, and have become like old friends. The look of the store is inviting and spacious. I usually have trouble coping with shops because of their layout and feel, I have never had that with Ayres. Truly one of a kind.

My best friend just bought a brownie from this location. There are hairs baked INTO the brownies. This is NOT ok. Look at these brownies. Not sanitary. My guess is that someone in the kitchen is not happy with their boss or a customer and is messing with the bakery. I don't blame the bakery, but someone needs to be fired or interrogated. My friend really wants to eat this brownie, but she is pulling out hairs and other unknown substances. She loves this bakery and is really distraught. 5 star review if there were no hairs in the brownies. She loves the brownies. Hates the hair. Find out who is putting her hair into the brownies. Fire her. Hair is white. The staff is really nice. But maybe someone is senile and needs to retire. It happens. We understand and love them. Just figure out the health regulations stuff. Love the food. Hate the hair.

i went here yesterday as i remember it once being the best bakery around, sad to say i was very disappointing, bought a steak and kidney pie for my mum and at a very pricey £3.30, i did expect to get some kidney in it, sad to say it was awful more like mince beef, hardly any meat at all and not a sign of any kidney, would have been better off with a saver pie from any supermarket, sausage rolls were small and tasted very peppery, the cake i bought was not much better , seriously you can buy better from Sainsburys or better still make your own , i spent over £10,00 on 2 sausage rolls 1 pie 1 cake and 2 doughnuts, totally feel i was robbed, poor quality all round, and i would now rather drive the 60 odd miles to the Leysdown bakery who put this place to shame,

Twenty years ago, ten years ago even, this was THE bakery: best doughnuts, best bread, best everything. Used to make infrequent trips when hungry and pig out! I am a doughnut connoisseur. The doughnuts are nice enough, though they have shrunk considerably and aren’t as crispy, chewy and juicy as they once were. Better can be had elsewhere for less cost… The meat in the sausage roll was grey and grizzly ,and the pastry was soft and undercooked, with an unpleasant damp smell from undercooked pastry. We bought four sausage rolls, but three ended up in the bin as no one wanted them! The four cheese sandwiches were nice, and I enjoyed the doorstep bread. It was very expensive — and with no option to pay with cash???

This is an artisan Baker selling a variety of sour dough , French cobs as well as run of mill bloomers and buns. They have a great range of savoury foods but not cheap. I've known this branch for over 15 years. My only gripe, they have bent the knee to public pressure and started the no salt trend which has completely destroyed the taste of the bread resulting in a fast mould setting in. Bread without salt is sacrilege to bakers. Also selling honeys and jams and loads of seasonal treats. Biscuits too and will hard to leave shop without buying at least one treat. Suggest you tie the kids with the dogs outside if you want to leave with some money in your pocket.

You can only love this bakery! It's a BIG plus to support your local independent businesses & as a MEGA plus there really isn't much tasty goodies that they don't sell. Great original ideas ranging from traditional cakes to favourites with a nice new twist. All of Grandma's favourite savory pastries ,plus Quiches, Pies and vegetarian selections. Also tea/hot chocolate/coffee/soup to have with that snack. Different Breads, rolls, baguettes & so much more. Freshly made to order Sandwiches & rolls etc Fresh Organic farm house juices, Organic eggs, oils, flour and other cupboard staples or maybe just the bits to do some home made baking. Just too much to mention .

It's fantastic to have a bakery nearby, and always a pleasure to go get your fesh loaf of bread (plastic free! :)) . They do have quite a lot on offer aside from said bread, quite a lot of awesome breakfast options including quiches and bacon/sausage sandwiches, they also have sandwiches for lunch as well as olives, Brixton honey, juice, and many deserts and treats. I'd recommend both bread with spelt, probably my favs, dont recommend the sourdough though, which is not firm or sour enough in my view, nor the baguette, which is not really their thing. Its a shame the place is not opened on Sundays, when it would probably make a lot of sense for it to be.

The rolls are excellent and you won't get any like them elsewhere. The fresh sandwiches are usually very good, particularly if they have the porchetta on. Loads of veggie options now too and really good traditional cakes and pies. It's a little pricey but just right for a treat with a good deli selection with meats, olives and cheeses and generally very nice service. The place is still family-run and staff are always from the local community. I used to work here and I have to say that everyone in the business is extremely friendly and it's been a real cornerstone of the area for a long time now

By far one of the best bakeries I’ve ever used, The staff are always friendly and helpful. As for the products, the sausage and bacon rolls in the morning are an absolute must, there jam doughnuts are really good, and when they make them you just have to get the Apple turnovers. The also have a good range of bread and rolls, and make a reasonable cup tea and coffee. They also have a small but what looks to be expanding range of “Free-from” items, which is good to see. Only downside is due to covid they no longer accept cash payments, while it’s a pain it’s completely understandable.

I'm addicted to this bakery....I've purchased...pastries...cakes ...Breakfast and not once have I had any reason to complain..the products are 10 / 10 ...friendly and polite service ...some have said they are expensive...if you are put off by the price I suggest you go in and whatever you purchase you will be very much satisfied and actually realise the price is very reasonable for the quality....and you will return....
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
£10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Freshly Baked Quiche

Lost half their customers being completely ott with COVID and maintaining restrictions long after everyone else had stopped. Now have stayed cashless and look like they are trying hard to lose the other half. You're not the Apple store, you are a bakery making the bulk of your money selling rolls to builders. I went in at 10am this morning, and where there used to be a queue out the door the place is empty. Political dogma isn't going to pay the rent darlings. Everything is average and overpriced anyway, shame to ruin a once good business.

This place really is an institution. Quite apart from being everything a community bakery should be, here's two more reasons: They sell fresh yeast for pennies. 100g for 60p and it lasts me nearly a month. And for my wife's 50th birthday, they made the most enormous birthday cake of our old camper van, from a few photographs. Got the colour & the detail spot on - right down to the leaky oil puddle oozing out of the engine. It was a triumph! They have even made it into the local panto. That's an institution for you!

I still love this bakery, but... paper bags a fresh loaf do not make! Ayres, please come up with a better solution, I can't be paying so much for bread that I can't keep fresh; additionally, your suggestion that I source my own plastic bags is silly; and finally, do you honestly think that paying extra for a suitable bag at the till is acceptable? Really? In all truth, I now get my bread from M&S or Sainsbury's, reluctantly, I might add. Your jam doughnuts are still amazing though, so it's not all bad.

Fake sourdough? The service here is great, they cut your bread with a smile and I love to have an independent bakery nearby. However, I feel a bit cheated having spent £6 on a (admittingly massive) loaf of so called sourdough bread. Now at home I know it is just a simple white bread loaf. Taste and smell and texture reveal this. I will go elsewhere for my sourdough because I know they're a pain to get right and make but then please don't pretend to sell it or overcharge so much for your attempt at it.

One of the best bakeries around. All the bread and cakes are great. However... I bought half a roast chicken to have for dinner and when I got home it looked as tho a bite had been taken out of it. I was so disappointed and put off I ended up throwing it away. Not sure why the woman in the shop thought that was OK to give to a customer. Tbh has put me off the place. If they are that slap dash with the chicken what else is going on?

Bakery/Deli has a nice selection and everything looks very nice. Even though it was busy, service was still quick and staff very friendly. But it seems very expensive for what you get. Steak slice (£3.40) wasn't much different to that well known chain and was a bit skimpy on the meat. Sausage bap (£2.95) was ok, but nothing special.

I went in to get some cup cakes however i was just waiting to be served however the people behind me get served for some reason before me then i ask the person on the canter for the cup cakes he said yh one second and stars servicing someone else even my had a problem ordering a pennine from this guy he was just rude to him

The food was absolutely delicious especially the Jam donuts however one of the staff was rude on Saturday and did not handle my order with care, she seemed quite young around the age 15 or 16 with a bad attitude and no manners. Would come again if the staff were nicer however it’s a no return for me due to the staff.

Standard bakery. They make good cakes and good doughnuts. I am ot as keen on the sausage baps. It was edible but I wasn't keen on the choice of sausage used. I would of wanted more meat for the price paid. The place is clean, the signs are clear. They have a variety of menus. The vegans are well catered for too.

A mainstay of Nunhead for many decades. However it's pricey and certain items are of dubious quality e.g. the sausages rolls. Whilst the pastry was light and flaky near the filling it was undercooked and the filling itself a flobby mess. If you need a cake, and don't want to venture too far, it's worth a visit.

This is no longer Ayres the bakery. Its Ayres the trendy delicatessen. Gone are the days of cream cakes and bread pud. They have been replaced with vegan stuff, olives and smoothies. You need to change your outside advertising btw... it still says that you sell cream cakes. Totally disappointed.

The best Jam doughnut I've had for years. Sourdough fabulous! Bought half a sourdough loaf sliced, as per the lady in front of me. Lovely helpful staff. Just a shame that they don't do their famous birthday cakes any more. My daughter wouldn't have anything else on her birthday.

i love this place, the staff are lovely and you never want to leave the bakery. the food is always fresh and beautiful and never fails to impress, bagguettes are lovely. i go in there on my rollerblades all the time with my uncle and they have perfect breakfast and lunch choices

Nice food, lovely cakes and the staff are great great great, I love them guys so polite and welcoming. The proprietor on the other hand, not so much, quite miserable and makes me feel unwelcoming, not being horrible, that's just my opinion. She's probably a really nice lady.

Nice doughnuts and soft rolls but the price constantly keep increasing. I like the food but unlikely to return as stuff are expensive and keep rising. Why should I pay £1.20p for a single doughnut when I can buy 4 for £1.00p or 8 for £1.50p from ASDA. It's extortionate.

Staff seem friendly enough but worst burger bap ever, ruined my guests meal. They liked the patty from the butchers but not the bap. I purchased 2 large baps, they tasted off never again. I'm sad to say something odd is happening here, loosing it's charm. …

Be careful when you buy something from this place they short change you. I thought 3 pounds on the sign was expensive but to be over over charged for a pastry is an absolute too. Too polite to confront the lady seeing as see was playing the little old lady act !

I have visited Ayres Bakery countless times over the last four decades. It is without a doubt my favourite bakery in south east London. The products are always tasty and fresh. My partner says their Cornish pasties are the best he has ever tasted and I agree!

This place is a nightmare to live close to because the temptation is insane. Everything is super tasty and having visited this morning to be asked whether I want paper or plastic wrapping it just got even better! Love love love this incredible bakery …

Great spot. Family owned for three generations. Always friendly service, and wide range of breads, cakes, sandwiches, coffee at a fair price. Also sell some amazing free range eggs, which are a world away from the pale and anaemic sort that Tesco flogs.

There aren't many bakers around, and this is a pretty reasonable one. It's not super amazing, but it's very reliable and it has a good range with reasonable prices. Nothing superfancy (it's not a deli), but a good place for most bread-and-baked-goods.

I remember this bakers 48 yrs ago use to have to go every day and the bread was very tasty and i never got home with a few bits missing cannot believe its still there how great its lasted the test of time i can remember the girl who served me (linda)

Always love going to Ayres. Please can I make a plea for the apricot danish, to make a return if possible. Finally would be great to have some sort of system in place for service? I got gazumped twice today (not staff fault) before I got served.

Ayres is a busy bakery store which sells a variety of bread and a range of cheeses and other locally produced items. We like their Low GI and their Spelt loaves, but wish they would also sell more Wholemeal loaves which are firm and traditional.

I adore this bakery. An incredible range and all at a decent price. There is a reason it has been a part of nunhead for many, many years and hopefully many more. Sausage rolls and sugar ring donuts are up there with the best ever for me.

Lived locally till the age of 14 remembered going there with my mum now aged 54 rediscovered ayres all over again drive from Sidcup every couple of weeks to stock up on the best cream cakes and sausage rolls how bakery shops used to be.

I PUMPED IN THIS MORNING AT 7AM, I ASKED FOR CROISSANT, NEW TRAY CAME WITH VERY RUBBY REHEATED PAIN AU CHOCOLATE FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY, THAT IS A 100%.. COST ME £1.50 EACH, AT LIDL YOU GET THE BEST FOR LESS THAN £0.50. NEVER NEVER AGAIN

Quite pricy but their breakfast rolls and vegan sausage rolls are lovely. Nice little deli selection too. Love the chocolate chip shortbread. Wouldn’t recommend the iced donuts as I find them quite sickly. Staff are always lovely :)

I had a delicious steak and kidney pie and a very nice smoothie made in the bakery at a reasonable ish price. The Belgian buns are the best in the world, in my opinion - fabulously light bun with the perfect sultana to bun ratio.

Community local bakery, and I'm in every week. All products are great. Considering that there are many coffeeshops around the area selling pastries, Ayres pastries beats them all on quality, taste and price hands down IMO.

Very expensive for a bakery. Almost day light robbery ! It would be fine if the food was great but it isn't. Shame really as these non franchised Bakerys are dwindleing in numbers. Really hope they up there game for 2020.

Visited for a second time and quite happy with purchased products, like for a British bakery standards. A part of selection of sweet and savoury baked goods you can find as well some chutneys, honey, jam's and cheese.

Great bakery with wide choice of bread and a fantastic choice of cakes and things a wide range of great cheese at really good prices. The staff are always polite, friendly helpful and nice. It's a joy to visit.

I’ve been coming here for years and I can honestly say that this is one of the nicest bakeries. They do the best sausage rolls ever and not to forget literally everything else they sell! 10/10 would recommend.

I’m new to the area and could not be more pleased with this bakery! I have only tried a few items but WOW - truly the best sausage roll I have ever experienced. I can’t wait to try absolutely everything here!

I walk to Ayres for their delicious, buttery croissants which I eat outdoors on Peckham Rye. Love their rolls too and the seasonal Hot Cross Buns, which were scrumptiously full dried fruit. Great local bakery

Just a classic old school family-run bakery. The food is always great and my favourite is the cherry bakewell tart. Not open Sundays (which is sadly the day I often most need a carbohydrate fix!).

Delicious breads and superb vegan sausage rolls! Hot Cross Buns were pretty delish too! That’s as far as we’ve tried but I’m sure we’ll cover most of their offer over the coming months …

Still the very best bakery in London with their legandary seeded poppy bread and ring doughnuts. If only you could drop price of nunhead green juice to £3 i would then definitely order more.

I have been using Ayres Bakery for over... 50 years! A family owned. locally sourcing, employer of local young and (elderly!) people with a warm and friendly service six days a week.

The best bread and cakes in London, people come from miles around. Good selection of traditional and modern cakes. Only downside is that the prices have gone up in line with the area.

The best bakery in South East London.....only parking at certain times of the day a problem. However the customer service at Ayers is first rate,along with great cakes, and bakery. ☝

Probably the best bakery so far. I love their cakes and their bread. The price is fair for the quality you get. They try to expand variety which is good. Really recommend this place.

A wonderful bakers selling excellent bread, cakes, filled rolls, and hot and cold snacks ready to eat. Friendly and helpful staff make this place a pleasure and a treat to visit.

This is *the* local bakery. Very well stocked, has vegan choices and a deli counter. We've been going for 25 years. You gotta get in early if you want vegan though …

A proper old English bakery with a very decent deli too. Well-known in the area for years and years for excellent breads and cakes. They're kind, too, which is always a bonus.

Best bakery in South London. Friendly,family run,well used by the community. Vast range of products,all excellent and freshly made on premises. Early opening and easy access.

Fantastic bakery with plenty of options. Very much feels like a bit of a throwback before the national chains of bakeries took over. Friendly staff and great service always.

Great local bakery and they're always super helpful. Would recommend the vegan sausage rolls. They have a good range but do quite often run out of things at lunchtime!

The food is always fresh and delicious, I get a lot of magic bags and that has allowed me to try variety of their food. Love your bread, sausage rolls and doughnuts :)

Greasy chicken escalope panini and even greasier Cornish pasties. The filling of the pasties was nothing like it supposed to be just such mush up pulp. Vomitous.

Great bakery, amazing cakes, muffins and baked bread. Snadwiches, pastries, tarts, everything tasty. And then I met local Sheriff I mean that ginger cat …

Had a very tasty jam doughnut plus some local honey from here. Looks and smells like the bakery of my childhood. They really really need to open on Sundays.

Lovely sausage roll, but the bread wasn't good (dry, crumbly, salty). Will come back to try it again as the staff are lovely so maybe it was an off day

Delicious baked goods of all kinds - sweet and savoury. Go-to place for our weekly loaves. White danish is excellent. Vegan lattice is also a must try!

Today I ate the best jam doughnut I have ever eaten and it came from Ayres Bakery. I am 48 years old and have eaten many doughnuts before. Come, enjoy.

I popped in for a midday munch and was pleased that the standards are as good today as they were when I went to school In the area some 40 years ago.

I wish they would open earlier like they used to. They open at 7.00am now, but I start work at the same time in Dulwich. No time for a bacon roll.

The best bakery i’ve ever been to, huge selection including vegan options & incredibly delicious. I only wish they were open on sundays too :)

Any business that doesn't give their clients a choice between paying with contactless or cash does not have the best interest for the public.

found this bakery by accident and it has by far the best cheese and onion pastry I've ever had, the vegan sausage roll slapped hard too.

Stopped by after visiting Kings hospital and did £40 in 4 minutes ! This shop is full of goodies! Excellent service and amazing food.

Delicious bread, cakes, doughnuts etc. Great service. Also love the cheeses, honey, hummus etc. Lucky to have it just down the road.

Superb selection of artisan breads at a good price. Good choice of pastries and a pretty good coffee to take out. Many thanks, Emily

We love this local family business. Much better quality than the cheaper chains, but not pretentious like bread shops often become.

Great bakery and the kids love it... Decent prices and friendly staff... One thing - take the carrots out of the "cornish" pasties!

Good food just needs to sort out the service because at its peak time it's all a bit much in there for the staff so a long wait

I used to go to Ayres bakery as a child so its nostalgic every time I visit here. They have lovely cakes, bread and pastries.

£6 for a weak tasting soughdough cob, looks good but taste of Hovis. Tesco sell much better and cheaper. Very disappointed.

Great bakery very good choice of bread and rolls, also sell local honey, cold meats, olives. Little expensive but worth it.

Love this place. Not only do they bake great breads and cakes they employ local people. Giving a lot back to the community

Mmmm Ayres Bakery love it but expensive that's the only problem. You gotta try the vegan sausage rolls OMD the best!

Great selection of baked goods, along with hot food (sausage rolls, gammon, brisket) and deli type cheese/meats

Greasy chicken escalope panini Greasier Cornish pasties Still repeating on my stomach 4 hours later Nauseous

From cake, to rolls to the green smoothie (which I am a huge fan of), the quality and taste is exceptional!

Love their variety of freshly baked bread, also got lots of sweet bakes, cakes, pasties, eggs, cheese etc.

Nice bakery does great sauasge rolls and dounghts very tasty. Only thing is they only take card payment.

Disappointed by the selection of cakes. Expensive generally. Some staff don't want to serve customers!

Brilliant doughnuts. Fab Spanish black pudding. Great croissants, good coffee. Lovely friendly staff.

Lovely staff, georgeous selection of breads, cakes and coffees, a great way to ease into the day.

Best bakers in South East London bar none. I've been coming since I was a kid... an institution!

Good selection of food, bakery and deli, hot drinks too! Prices a little high, but not too bad.

Would definitely recommend. Been coming here when I am in the area for years. Apple cake …

Great subway rolls with either sausages or bacon for breakfast. GI loaves great quality.

A Nunhead institution and rightly so. The sausage rolls are very highly recommended.

This bakery has changed a lot but still has lovely savoury and sweet items for sale,