about us
We are an independent, family run coffee shop in the historical town of Bedford. Since our establishment in 2017, we've been proudly serving up locally roasted coffee that's been expertly crafted, along with a delightful selection of loose leaf teas. And let's not forget about our mouthwatering hand-rolled bagels and freshly baked goodies, including the heavenly pastel de natas.
We offer a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for you to enjoy our passion for coffee, baking and bagel rolling!,
So why not treat yourself to a freshly baked bagel, filled to the brim with piping hot salt beef? Pair it with a rich and velvety flat white for the ultimate flavour experience. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, go for our tangy feta bagel topped with homemade chili jam. The choice is all yours!
Come on over and join us for a delightful coffee break. We can't wait to share our passion with you!
behind the bagel
back in 2017,
when we first opened.
We first met in London while we were both attending art college. Since then, we've been together for 27 years, have three amazing kids and even have a grandson now. Talk about a full house!
While working a full-time construction job and raising three kids, we never let go of our passion for art. If you take a look around VanillaTree, you'll notice that almost all the artwork on our walls is either ours or our children's.
Our journey to VanillaTree began back in 2015, when I decided to try my luck at a farmers market. I started selling homemade baked goods, and that's when the idea of having a permanent place of our own started to take shape.
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The building that now houses VanillaTree used to be an empty space, once upon a time, it was a carpet shop. The wooden floor was hidden beneath a worn-out blue carpet, and the place was just one big empty canvas. Once we got the keys for the building, work began to make the place what it is today, everything was put together by us (mainly Martin), the shelves, the counter, the bench at the window... Most of our furniture is secondhand, and the artwork you see on display is either our own or created by talented local artists.
Starting a business from scratch with no prior experience was no walk in the park. We faced countless challenges and had our fair share of ups and downs, but being able to do something that we love everyday got us through those hard days. and the support from the community of Bedford when we first opened was amazing! We've also been incredibly fortunate to have had amazing staff, both past and present, who have poured their hearts into making VanillaTree what it is today. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Over the years, we've learned so much. We've perfected our bagel recipe and had the pleasure of meeting some truly incredible individuals. Our customers are simply the best, and we're fortunate to have regulars who have become dear friends. It's truly fulfilling to witness people returning to us, not just for our scrumptious food and coffee, but because they feel genuinely welcomed and appreciated here.
We are so proud of what we have created and grateful for everyday we get to give you Bedfordians a freshly baked bagel and a big smile! We can't wait to see what the future holds for VanillaTree.
Tree & Martin x
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Construction in progress
Our Covid
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