' Times are tough': Popular Edinburgh bakery to close after almost a decade

A popular Edinburgh bakery is to close on Christmas Eve after almost a decade in Canonmills.

The Bearded Baker will shut its Rodney Street shop alongside its nearby sister café Seventy One Steps, with owner Rowan Walker saying rising costs and changing family priorities are behind the decision.

Walker started The Bearded Baker from his home kitchen in 2015, initially making bagels to supply cafés around Edinburgh.

The business moved into its distinctive shop at 46 Rodney Street in 2017 as it expanded, adding doughnuts, sourdough, cinnamon buns and other baked goods to its range.

It went on to build a loyal following in the city, with queues forming outside the bakery during the Covid pandemic when customers were served from the door.

The business expanded again in 2024 with the opening of Seventy One Steps, a larger café and brunch spot a short distance along Rodney Street.

Announcing the decision to close, Walker said margins had been squeezed to the point where making a worthwhile profit had become increasingly difficult.

He said: “We opened the cafe back in 2017 mainly because we needed a commercial kitchen space to grow our wholesale bagel business and get it out of our home kitchen - it just so happened this one came with a little cafe attached to it.
 
“After a couple of weeks we had to scale back the wholesale side of things because you guys made sure we were just so damn busy!
 
“A lot has happened since. I’ve gone from a fresh(ish) faced 24 year old to a married with two kids living in the countryside greying 34 year old. Covid, serving from the door, the queue up the road when we reopened (which remains one of my best memories), moving bakeries (twice) and opening our second site 71 steps down the road - we’ve certainly kept busy, with the help of some incredible staff past and present.

He added: “Times are tough - as tough as they’ve ever been. Our margins are being squeezed to near impossibility to make any sort of decent profit. Working 7 days a week, as we did when I was 24, is just not an option anymore without having a detrimental affect on our family. Our priorities over time have shifted, and family is top.

“We’re sad that our time here in Canonmills is nearly over, but we’re very happy that it happened. We really hope you can all come down between now and Christmas Eve for one last bun, bagel and/or doughnut.”

The bakery has become particularly known for its handmade bagels, doughnuts and cinnamon buns, while Seventy One Steps expanded the offering with filled bagels, waffles and brunch dishes.

The Bearded Baker’s reputation has spread beyond Edinburgh. Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood was spotted visiting the Canonmills bakery in October, enjoying one of its pastries outside the shop.

Both The Bearded Baker and Seventy One Steps are expected to continue trading through November and December before closing for the final time on Christmas Eve.

Customers are being encouraged to make one final visit for a bun, bagel or doughnut before the doors close.