London is no stranger to gluten-free baked goods. But while demand is widespread, and dedicated gluten-free bakeries are dotted across the city, high-quality pastries that rival their traditional counterparts remain rare. Copains founders Baptiste Borne and Giovanni Amico wanted to fill that gap so, in November, they opened Copains’s first UK store on Neal Street, Covent Garden.
The success of the Paris-born bakery – which opened in 2021 and now has branches in Lyon, Brussels and soon, Islington – lies in its refusal to treat gluten-free baking as a limitation, instead approaching it as a gastronomic opportunity. Its pastries are light, elegant and meticulously balanced, often incorporating chocolate, fruit or nuts to deepen flavour.
“We want our customers to enjoy a complete culinary experience, without ever feeling that they are compromising because of their dietary restrictions,” the founders tell Broadsheet. “What is missing is pleasure, generosity, aesthetics, and the desire to really treat yourself without compromise,” Amico adds. From the outset, Copains has positioned itself as a place people visit to enjoy great baking first, with the fact that everything is gluten-free being secondary. The bakery prides itself on creations that are generous and refined, rooted in the belief that gluten-free baking can be as visually striking as anything found in a traditional patisserie.
Copains approaches gluten-free baking as a distinct methodology, with specialised techniques, codes, and taste promises. Borne and Amico have worked extensively with alternative flours and methods, reformulating recipes to achieve the lightness, structure and richness associated with great French patisserie. The menu is expansive, spanning classic Parisian croissants alongside chocolate babkas, pistachio tarts, sandwiches and rotating seasonal pastries.
“Innovation is a key driver for us,” Borne says. “Many of our signature products were created in response to market frustrations or identified needs.” In adapting the Copains menu to London, the pair sourced local ingredients, ensuring consistency without sacrificing quality.
Copains translates to “friends” in French, and that sense of warmth underpins the customer experience. The store reflects the brand’s clean visual identity, with soft lighting and plenty of space to browse. The pastries are displayed on tiled and wooden slabs, and staff are on hand to guide customers through the experience from start to finish. “The idea is not simply to sell, but to support and inform each visitor,” says Giovanni, particularly when navigating gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free options.
Copains
54 Neal Street, WC2H 9PA
07341 895621
Hours
Mon to Sat 8am-8pm
Sun 9am-7pm
