August 24, 2020 4.02 pm This story is over 43 months old

Former Lincoln museum worker starts bakery from village home

Fancy baked goods delivered to you
Anya Johnson, owner of Little Loaf Bakery. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Get bready to taste some delicious treats after a former Lincoln museum employee turned her passion for baking into a business offering sweet and savoury breads near Woodhall Spa.

Anya Johnson, 27, enjoyed working at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln for around four and a half years.

She started doing more baking in her spare time when she launched The Little Loaf Bakery in the village of Bucknall in June.

It became so popular that by the following month she left her job at the museum to focus fully on her new career.

Chocolate and pistachio babka, Swedish cinnamon buns and the Love Cake. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Little Loaf Bakery is inspired by French and Scandinavian flavours and baking techniques.

It sells mainly speciality sweet breads like brioche, babka and Swedish cinnamon buns, as well as savoury bread called Fougasse and two loaf cakes – Love Cake and Chocolat Chaud. Vegan and gluten-free alternatives are also available.

The Love Cake is made with almonds and yoghurt, with a honey icing and topped with rose petals and pistachios. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Chocolate and pistachio babka. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The delicious delights are priced between £4 to £6, but smaller personalised loaf cakes can be made for £2.

Orders can be placed via the business’ Facebook and Instagram pages, or by emailing [email protected], and can be delivered to your door or collected from Anya’s Bucknall base.

A small delivery cost will be introduced in the near future for orders under £30 and delivery is available within around a 20 mile radius, including to Lincoln.

The chocolate and pistachio babka is among the top sellers at The Little Loaf Bakery. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Anya Johnson launched The Little Loaf Bakery in the village of Bucknall this summer. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Anya is originally from Harrogate, but moved to Lincoln in 2011 to attend the University of Lincoln to study BA(Hons) History before doing a Masters in Historical Studies.

She told The Lincolnite: “I have been baking since I was small and lockdown gave me the chance to revisit that passion.

“I really loved my four and a half years working for the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, which I can’t wait to see reopen again, but my baking passion has now become my focus.

“I’ve been busy with orders ever since – it’s been surprising and also lovely to see how quickly things have taken off. The business is going really well.

“The menu has both Parisian and Scandinavian influences and that seems to be resonating with people in Lincoln and the surrounding villages.”

Anya plans to introduce a “Winter Menu” in the near future to include seasonally specific treats. She is also looking to develop some more savoury bread offerings such as white boule and baguettes.