Business Details
9 Years
experience
Artisan Bakery & Restaurant in London | POPHAMS
Founded in 2017 by Ollie Gold, POPHAMS is an artisanal bakery and restaurant rooted in traditional viennoiserie techniques and seasonal ingredients. Our journey began in a derelict chemist in Islington, where we transformed a passion for global culinary cultures into a thriving business. Over the years, we expanded to London Fields and Victoria Park, introducing hand-crafted pasta and homewares curated from local artisans. Our team, led by Creative Director Lucy and Head Chef Rae Arends, combines expertise from diverse culinary backgrounds, including Formula 1 catering and Italian gastronomy. We prioritise innovation, collaborating with independent makers to create evolving menus and community-focused spaces.With a commitment to quality, we offer breakfast, lunch, and evening dining experiences across three locations, alongside catering and private hire services. Our dedication to seasonal British and Italian produce, paired with a respect for traditional methods, defines our approach to food and hospitality. We actively engage with our local communities, ensuring each site becomes a hub for connection and inspiration. From our signature Bacon & Maple croissants to our hand-shaped pasta dishes, every offering reflects our attention to detail and passion for craftsmanship. As we continue to grow, we remain guided by the values of creativity, collaboration, and excellence that shaped our founding.
Services
Artisan Bakery
Pasta Restaurant
Homewares Retail
Catering Services
Private Hire
Pre-Orders
Corporate Gifting
Details
- Year established: 2017
Highlights and features
- We use traditional viennoiserie techniques and seasonal ingredients for authentic, high-quality products.
- Our team includes chefs with expertise in Italian gastronomy and global culinary cultures.
- We collaborate with local artisans to curate unique homewares and enhance community ties.
- We offer versatile catering and private hire options for events and corporate needs.
- Our menus evolve seasonally, ensuring fresh and innovative offerings year-round.
Services
Artisan Bakery
Our artisan bakery crafts viennoiserie pastries using traditional techniques and seasonal ingredients. From croissants to cardamom buns, each product is hand-made with attention to detail. We source high-quality local produce to ensure freshness and support regional suppliers.
Pasta Restaurant
The pasta restaurant offers hand-shaped pasta dishes inspired by Italian traditions, using British and Italian seasonal produce. Led by skilled chefs, we create sharing plates and evening menus that highlight creative pairings with curated wines.
Homewares Retail
Our homewares section features curated products from local artisans, including ceramics, linens, and glassware. Each item reflects our commitment to craftsmanship and complements the artisanal nature of our food offerings.
Catering Services
We provide catering for external events, offering breakfast, lunch, and bespoke menus. Our team delivers the same quality and creativity found in our bakeries to private parties and corporate functions across London.
Private Hire
Our London Fields studio space is available for private hire, accommodating meetings, workshops, and events. The venue seats 15 people and includes catering options for daytime breakfast or lunch gatherings.
People
Ollie Gold
Founder & Director
Ollie Gold founded POPHAMS in 2017 after seven years in Formula 1 catering teams. His global culinary experiences inspired the bakery's innovative approach to traditional baking techniques.
Lucy
Creative Director
Lucy oversees the creative direction of POPHAMS, designing spaces that reflect the artisanal nature of our food. She played a key role in transforming the original Islington site into a community hub.
Rae Arends
Head Chef
Rae Arends leads the kitchen team in crafting hand-shaped pasta dishes. Her expertise in Italian cuisine ensures our restaurant menus maintain a balance of tradition and creativity.
Phil King
Executive Chef
Phil King oversees culinary operations across all POPHAMS sites. With a focus on seasonal British and Italian produce, he ensures consistency and innovation in our food offerings.
Lia
Restaurant Manager & Head of Beverage
Lia manages the restaurant and beverage programme, curating wine selections that pair with our seasonal menus. She ensures a seamless dining experience for guests.
Questions
What are POPHAMS' opening hours?
Our bakeries are open Wednesday-Saturday 08:00-16:00 and Sunday 08:30-16:00. The London Fields restaurant operates Wednesday-Saturday evenings from 18:00.
Do you offer catering services?
Yes, we provide catering for events and private parties across London, including breakfast, lunch, and bespoke menu options for corporate or personal occasions.
Can I purchase POPHAMS gift cards?
Digital and physical gift cards are available online or in-store, redeemable across our bakeries, restaurant, and homeware shops.
Are there private hire options?
Our London Fields studio seats 15 people and is available for daytime meetings, workshops, or private parties with catering options.
Do you accommodate dietary requirements?
We endeavour to accommodate dietary needs with 48 hours' notice. Please inform us of allergies or restrictions when placing orders or making reservations.
Reviews (6)
Caitlin P.
Jan 24, 2022
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Love this spot, beautiful in the sun with a few tables and the cute church and courtyard across the road. They have really mastered croissant dough and produce probably the best pain au chocolates in London. I love the specials.. just look how perfectly perfect this little drop of blood orange, Earl grey, custardy goodness looks!
Jessica Freslon
Jan 20, 2022
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Favorite place in the area!
Going there nearly everyday. Everything is delicious and the people are so kind!
Going there nearly everyday. Everything is delicious and the people are so kind!
Bledi Jahjaga
Jan 17, 2022
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One of the best Pain au Chocolates Ive had. Clearly freshly made and very nice to have the option of warming it up. Go earlier to have all the menu available (only reason why its 4, not 5 stars - but will come back to find the last star).
Was quite busy but the queue was managed well and the service was very quick. With the quality of the offer, this is not easily done. Well done guys, keep it up.
Was quite busy but the queue was managed well and the service was very quick. With the quality of the offer, this is not easily done. Well done guys, keep it up.
Katina Donoghue
Dec 25, 2021
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Probably one of the best bakeries I have been to. The croissant are as good as any I have had in France. They were the perfect combination of flaky and buttery. The ham and cheese was great. The star is definitely the maple bacon croissant that has really thick strips of streaky bacon inside but just the right amount of maple syrup. They made some great cortados too! I would definitely come back.
Wendy
Dec 19, 2021
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Best pastries! The marmite and cheese, and bacon maple pastries are the best. Their seasonal and weekend sweet pastries are also amazing always go early to avoid disappointment as they sell out quick
Vionna Li
Dec 10, 2021
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A friend evangelised the pastries at Pophams to no end, so we had no choice but to heed her advice and trudge to Islington to sample her two recommendations: the Bacon and Maple Swirl and the Ham and Cheese croissant. There's no need to agonize over which to pick. The mandate is both. 'Til today, I refuse to pick a winner. The Maple Bacon Swirl is a beauty: smoked streaky bacon is coiled neatly within a pastry snail shell, then brushed with a maple glaze. It's phenomenal: a triple threat on the palette of savoury, sweet, and smokey, carried by a croissant that is lamination perfection. One bite
