A popular bakery in the North East that sells "incredible" pastries and sandwiches has been crowned the best in the region at the National Bakery Awards 2024.

Northern Rye, located in Newcastle upon Tyne featured among the likes of Two Dales Bakery in Reeth, North Yorkshire, which was named the top bakery in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Also based in Newcastle, Shieldfield’s Big River Bakery received the title of Social Enterprise Bakery of the Year.

You can see all winners at the National Bakery Awards 2024 here.

Northern Rye which can be found in Ouseburn and North Shields, says it aims to use the “highest quality ingredients in all our baked goods,” according to its website.

It adds: “We work with some of the country’s best suppliers from regeneratively grown Wildfarmed flour to high-quality sustainable butter churned by Estate Dairy.

“Combine this with long fermentation techniques and a skilled baker’s hand, we hope our customers can taste the passion that goes into everything we make.”

Robbie, who owns the successful Northern Rye with his wife Alex, explained: “This all started when I was made redundant from a long career in the print trade in 2016.

“As I had always been interested in the food industry I took this opportunity to take the leap and retrain.

“I enrolled on a baking course at the School of Artisan Food in 2016, which sparked my now ongoing obsession with bread and all things leavened. I graduated in 2017 and later that year I started Northern Rye.”

@a_sliceof_thetoon Northern Rye Bakehouse, Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate 🥐😋 #northeastfood #newcastlefood #newcastlecheck #toontok #geordie #newcastletiktok #newcastleupontyne #croissant #localbakery #northernrye #newcastlebakery ♬ u guys are pretty wtf - ki

The bakery describes itself as a “handcrafted, small batch bakery” specialising in sourdough bread, pastries, sandwiches and coffee, as stated on its Facebook page.

Northern Rye customers praise 'best bakery in Newcastle'

On Google reviews, Northern Rye has an impressive rating of 4.9/5 stars, from 382 reviews.

One customer who recently visited shared: “Incredible pastries and sandwiches. They also sell fresh breads, including a lovely poppy seed sourdough. Coffee is also great, and often served in pretty cups!

“We love stopping by when we’re in Ouseburn!”

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Another added: “Best bakery in newcastle. We all know that. They have great pastries and good coffee. I also recommend their sandwiches.”

Someone else posted: “Great bakery with some lovely product.

"Coffee is very nice and I would recommend both the balsamic onion and cheddar toasties and the new York deli sandwich they are amazing followed by a cruffin.”