Crwst Bakery, based in Cardigan, has been named the Best Artisan Food & Drink Producer at the 2026 Muddy Stilettos Awards, the UK’s largest awards for independent lifestyle businesses. The bakery, founded by husband-and-wife Osian and Catrin Jones, has built a loyal following for its fresh baked goods, including sourdough loaves, brioche doughnuts, and cinnamon swirls.
Award-Winning Bakery in Cardigan
The 80-seater café and deli, located just off Cardigan High Street, attracts customers from across Wales and beyond. The couple launched Crwst in 2018 after leaving their jobs to pursue their passion for baking and coffee. “We just wanted to bring something amazing back to rural west Wales,” Osian told Wales Online. “It’s worked out brilliantly for us now — we thought we’d maybe start somewhere in Cardiff and build it from there and then come back home. It's actually turned out we did the opposite and came straight home, took the risk, and it’s paid off so far.”
Expansion and Recognition
Since opening, the business has grown, adding a second venue at Poppit Sands at the start of the Pembrokeshire coast path, where they serve popular bakes, ice creams, and coffees. Crwst has also earned a spot on the Good Food Guide's 50 Best Bakeries in the UK and won ‘Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year South West Wales’ in 2019.
The bakery’s brunch menu features items like harissa halloumi burger, pancake stacks, and Turkish eggs. Guardian writer Genevieve Fox praised the venue: “Brunch is the ticket at this bright, trendy Cardigan craft bakery. The Full Welsh Brekkie includes Crwst’s signature beans and a cockle and laverbread gratin, the halloumi is made locally, and the blow-out Sausage & Egg McDoughnut is filled with melted cheese.”
Signature Dishes and Baked Goods
The Sausage and Egg McDoughnut, described as their “take on that famous breakfast that Ronald likes to eat,” features a local pork sausage patty, fried egg, burger cheese, and a toasted doughnut. Their brioche doughnuts and Torth y Wlad Sourdough have developed a cult following. The Good Food Guide notes “particularly good swirls,” including cinnamon, maple, and pecan.
Crwst produces artisan bakes at an off-site bakery on Bath House Road in Cardigan, using only a handful of ingredients with no additives or preservatives. They also run a Production Kitchen where Osian’s recipes become award-winning products like Honey Butter and Granola Clusters, stocked in farm shops and delis across the UK.
Visitor Experience
During a Cardigan Bay road trip, a journalist visited Crwst after TikTok followers recommended it. The Rum and Banana French Toast with brule banana, streaky bacon, and Barti Rum Caramel ice cream was a highlight. The last brioche doughnut and a Portuguese Custard Tart were also enjoyed. The service was excellent, and the deli offered Welsh liqueurs, coffee beans, and Pembrokeshire Sea Salted Caramel, with a total spend of £56.
Crwst continues to thrive, with hopes of expanding to Cardiff. As Osian said, “It was just a hunch... We created something that people want, and that’s amazing.”
