South London's highly praised bagel shop, which has earned a reputation for selling out within hours of opening, is preparing to move to a new location. Banook Bagels, founded by Ashley and Dave in late 2023, has quickly become a destination for bagel enthusiasts across the capital, with many hailing it as London's finest.
From Industrial Estate to High Street Visibility
Currently operating from an industrial estate warehouse on Latona Road in Peckham, Banook Bagels has cultivated a devoted following despite its somewhat hidden location. The founders announced via Instagram this week that they will be relocating to East Dulwich Road, situated between East Dulwich and Peckham Rye, with plans to open by Spring 2026.
Ashley explained the reasoning behind the move to local media: "While we've built something really special at Latona Road, running a business, especially in hospitality, requires steady footfall which we unfortunately do not have in a way that is sustainable in the long term."
Expanding Operations and Accessibility
The new location promises greater visibility and accessibility for customers. Currently open from Wednesday to Saturday, the move will allow Banook Bagels to expand their opening days. Ashley noted that while many customers have made special trips to their current location, the residential nature of the area means they miss out on casual foot traffic.
"We've been so appreciative that so many people go out of their way to find Banook," Ashley said, "but this also means that we don't get many new customers walking past by chance."
The Banook Bagels Experience
Banook Bagels has earned its reputation through consistently excellent products that blend influences from New York and Montreal styles, creating what they describe as their own iconic 'South London' bagel. Their menu features:
- Classic plain bagels
- Sesame seed varieties
- Rosemary and sea salt options
- Their popular 'Everything' bagel with a secret blend of garlic, onion, poppy, sea salt and sesame
- Filled bagels and cream cheese pots
Customer reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with one patron noting: "[These bagels] could take the top spot for the best bagel. Sold out of everything bagels by 1pm should tell you enough!" Another customer remarked: "I was sceptical it could live up to the hype. Oh how wrong I was."
Historical Significance of the New Location
The new premises on East Dulwich Road comes with its own historical character. The building's frontage still bears the signage 'M & M Boyes', revealed after the closure of a previous pizza takeaway. Research suggests the site originally housed a drapery that opened in 1896.
Ashley expressed enthusiasm about the historical elements: "It's always so great uncovering remnants of old London signage and it's probably what caught my eye first." The team is currently investigating whether they can restore the original frontage, which has suffered some damage over recent years.
Customer Reactions and Future Plans
While regular customers have expressed mixed feelings about the move, with one Instagram commenter noting: "I'm happy for you, but sad for my ability to walk to morning bagels," the overall response has been supportive. Many have already promised to visit the new location.
Reflecting on their time at Latona Road, Ashley shared: "We only anticipated being at Latona Road for maybe six to eight months, however, we've now been there for nearly a year and a half. In this time we've rolled countless bagels, in the 100s of thousands if I had to guess, grown the team, and got to meet so many amazing customers."
The move represents a significant step forward for the business, potentially introducing their acclaimed bagels to a wider audience while maintaining the quality that earned them their loyal following in the first place.
