I started baking in 2008, a few months after my mum died suddenly. She was a brilliant baker and cake decorator and made wedding cakes for people for as long as I can remember. I started baking as a way to feel close to her, and before long I’d completely caught the bug. What began as something personal slowly turned into something bigger, and in December 2012 I started my baking business.
A few years ago I became obsessed with researching my family history. I didn’t know much about my mum’s side of the family, so I started digging. That’s when I discovered that her father, Arthur, was a baker and confectioner. That alone felt like a strange and brilliant coincidence, but it didn’t stop there. His father was also a baker. And his father, my great great grandfather was a miller. Turns out baking runs pretty deep in the family. Five generations deep, in fact.
For years that history shaped what we did. But as time went on, the idea grew into something bigger than just cakes. I wanted a space where baking, coffee, food and people could all come together somewhere lively, welcoming, and a bit different.
RIOT is a coffee shop and bakery where everything revolves around good coffee, freshly baked cakes, and proper savoury food made on site. You’ll find cakes coming out of the oven, toasties on the grill, and the smell of fresh baking in the air most of the day. But more than anything, RIOT is about people.
I’ve always believed a café should be more than somewhere to grab a coffee and rush out the door. It should feel like somewhere you can stay a while. Somewhere welcoming, relaxed, and open to everyone. Whether you’re popping in for a quick coffee, meeting friends, working for an hour, or just fancy a slice of cake and a bit of quiet.
RIOT isn’t your typical coffee shop, and we’re proud of that. Come in for a coffee, a toastie, something sweet, and a chat.
