Here’s a surprising fact: Wild Goose Bakery started in 2013 as a tiny market stall. Now they’ve conquered an entire arch. They also sell to local cafes, which means you might unknowingly eat their bread while feeling smug in Hackney. You’re welcome.
Forest Gate Area Guide | London | The Stow Brothers
Another absurd detail: they make a vegan chocolate and olive oil cake that tastes so rich, carnivores will weep. I forced it on a friend who hates vegan food. He ate three slices before asking, “Wait, there’s no butter?” There was a moment of stunned silence, then he ordered another slice for the road.
Go now, but bring patience
If you visit, do it on a weekend morning. Arrive early—like, before your brain fully wakes up early. Bring cash or a card, because they accept both, which is very modern of them. And wear stretchy pants. This isn’t a suggestion; it’s a survival tactic.
You’ll leave with a paper bag that smells like a hug. You’ll eat a thing in the car. You’ll pretend you’ll save the rest for later. You won’t. I never do. But that’s the magic of Wild Goose Bakery: it turns adults into gremlins who just want more hot dough.
So next time you hear a train rumbling through Forest Gate, know that underneath it, a tiny army of bakers is out there, folding butter into dough and making the world a slightly better, considerably flakier place. Go. Eat. Repeat. Your future self—covered in crumbs—will thank you.
