The bakery has signed on a 450sq ft unit at Neal’s Yard joining chef-led concepts such as The Barbary, Story Cellar and the recently opened Buvette.
Sourdough Sophia was founded by baker Sophia Handschuh and her husband Jesse Sutton-Jones in their flat during lockdown. Following a successful crowdfund, the pair opened their first bakery in 2020 in Crouch End.
It now also has sites in Primrose Hill, Essex Road, Hampstead and Highgate.
“When I started this business in lockdown, I could never have imagined that I would end up here, with a store of my own in one of the most iconic locations in the world,” says Handschuh.
“We’re very proud to have built our presence around London, and this moment feels extra special, marrying up with a place that has such a widespread appeal with a real community feel.”
Ice cream shop Soft Serve Society is also coming to Covent Garden with the opening of another London location. The brand, which has a presence at Market Place Food Hall in Leicester Square and Boxhall City in Liverpool Street will open a flagship Soft Serve Cafe in a 850sq ft space on Earlham Street.
Best known for its Instagrammable, inventive and over-the-top soft-serve creations, the larger site will enable Soft Serve Society to create a more immersive in-store experience, with additional seating.
Its menu will feature signature sundaes and baked desserts paired with soft serve ice cream, alongside a dedicated tiramisu vending machine, and a range of branded merchandise.
“This year has been a strong one for us in terms of F&B leasing, and it’s fantastic to see that momentum continue with another exceptional group of independent operators choosing Covent Garden and its Seven Dials neighbourhood,” says Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital.
“What sets Covent Garden apart is the calibre and diversity of our offer, and it’s this unique ecosystem that continues to attract the industry’s most exciting operators, reinforcing our position as London’s leading destination for world-class dining and hospitality.”