Donald’s, the independent coffee, pie and bakery business that’s built a cult following in Cardiff, has opened its first permanent London site in Hackney Wick. It’s the brand’s fifth trading location overall but its first proper shop outside Wales, a big step up from its beginnings as a weekend-only van at a Cardiff cricket club just two years ago.
Co-founder Gareth Owens built Donald’s around the coffee-and-pie culture he encountered living in New Zealand, where good coffee and a hot pie are just part of the daily routine. London customers can expect a stable house coffee alongside rotating filter options, and Donald’s signature handmade pies, including Mince Beef & Cheddar, Butter Chicken Curry, Ratatouille & Vegan Feta and BBQ Pulled Pork, plus cookies and sausage rolls. It follows a series of sell-out takeovers around London, including at the London Welsh Centre and Dark Arts Coffee, where Donald’s is now the permanent pie and coffee pop-up for Welsh rugby fixtures.
“London’s a massively important next step for us as a company,” says Owens. “It already feels like a home away from home.”
It’s the latest addition to London’s growing Celtic food scene, joining the likes of Barra, which is flying the flag for Wales in Peckham, and Angel’s Scottish scran spot, Auld Hag.
Key Information
Address | 455 Wick Lane, Hackney Wick, London, E3 2TB
Website | donaldspies.com
