A new Welsh cafe has opened in London with the aim to expand Wales’ thriving culture and cuisine beyond the boarder. It would be an easy mistake to assume that Bara, the Welsh titled cafe translating to ‘bread’, is based in the heart of the Welsh valleys or Wales’ city centre. Bara is a recent addition to Peckham in South London. Co-owners and chefs, Cecily Dalladay from Aberdare, South Wales and Zoë Heimann from Clapham, South London have teamed up to create the ultimate taste of home for Welsh visitors whilst providing a warm Welsh welcome for Londoners alike.
Bara opened its doors in Peckham on the 12th of February, 2026, ahead of Valentines weekend; a perfect occasion to celebrate a love of Welsh cuisine. A MasterChef: The Professionals quarterfinalist in 2023, Dalladay has not only the skills to create a successful hub for Welsh food but the cultural understanding. Inspired by her grandmother’s 1950s cookbook from the Wales Gas Board titled ‘Croeso Cymreig – a Welsh Welcome’, Dalladay decided to widen London’s horizons with a cafe dedicated to traditionally Welsh inspired recipes. Speaking to BBC News, Dalladay said that her grandmother’s cookbook ‘felt like a sign I should do something Welsh, and it felt really natural to me.’
When it comes to the menu, the clue is in the name; ‘At Bara, everything starts with bread’ Bara’s website states, and their range of options reflects this. Bara is inspired by traditionally Welsh food, serving bara brith and crab Welsh rarebit. With there being an increasing demand for a gap in UK’s food market, introducing London to Wales’ cuisine sets Bara apart from London’s competitive culinary market, providing comfort food with a Welsh twist. Prioritising Welsh produce and even naming items on the menu after traditional dishes or Welsh locations, such as the Caerphilly cheesesteaks and Swansea breakfasts, Bara is successfully introducing Welsh cuisine by keeping their business both educational and delicious.
Bara even keeps its prices Welsh. From as low as £1.50 for filter coffee, as ‘good coffee should be accessible’ states their website, Bara is a company prioritising affordability. Selling bara brith and their signature bara buns from £3.50 each, Bara have a set menu which ranges from £7.50 to £15. Distributing vouchers for the cafe at local food banks to give back to the community and avoid waste solidifies Bara as an accessible culinary experience for all to enjoy.
A month after opening, Bara has gained attraction and support online. Josh Barrie for the Evening Standard wrote in his review that Bara is ‘already a hub within an animated community, a supportive refuge and a transformative one’, recognising Bara for its inclusivity of both Welsh culture and its London community. Food content creator, Gwen Matthews, who runs the Instagram account Oh, Get Stuffed documenting food reviews says there’s a rise in ‘Welsh food thriving on its own. It’s influencing menus and shaping recommendations’.
Bara has already made its mark on London, integrating Welsh culture into this close-knit Peckham community. With the influence of Welsh culture already on the rise, the opening of Bara contributes to the growing outreach of Welsh cuisine.
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