OUR STORY

How did The Gay Baker begin?

From one table in Miraflores to two spaces in Lima.

The Gay Baker began because Kris and Francis wanted to bring people together around food. What started as supper clubs became a British bakery, a shop and, gradually, a meeting point for people who enjoy British culture.

Kris and Francis, founders of The Gay Baker in Lima

BEFORE THE SHOP

Miraflores · 2023

First there was a table

After moving to Peru, Kris and Francis began hosting supper clubs in their Miraflores flat: around fifteen people, three courses and a fairly effective excuse to meet people. Both cooked, and the table filled quickly.

At one of those dinners the Deputy British Ambassador and Head of Trade joined the table. About two weeks later came a call about the April 2023 embassies fair at La Videna. The British stand needed British food. Francis answered immediately: “Kris can.”

The Gay Baker at the La Videna embassies fair in 2023

LA VIDENA · APRIL 2023

Then came the queues

The fair went far better than expected. There were enormous queues, very little sleep and quite a lot of Spanish learned under pressure. Afterwards, The Gay Baker continued as a weekend project while both kept their regular jobs.

Demand kept growing until a home kitchen was no longer a sensible solution. It was time to stop or do it properly.

SURQUILLO · 2024

Go big or go home

We found a run-down space in the first block of Santa Rosa, Surquillo. The original idea was almost a takeaway window. Family asked the right question: if we were going to do this, why not create the full experience?

That became The Gay Baker’s first physical shop: part kitchen, part store and a little piece of the UK built in Lima. The storefront, flowers, music, interaction and food became part of the same experience.

The Gay Baker first shop in Surquillo, Lima

THE KITCHEN BEFORE THE BRAND

Long before Lima

Kent, England, part of The Gay Baker family story

Kris grew up in the Kent countryside, around seasonal fruit, family kitchens and big tables. His mother learned much of her cooking from Doreen, Kris’s paternal grandmother, and baking was a normal part of home life rather than something reserved for special occasions.

Victoria Sponge sums up that beginning rather well: Kris made it with his mum and sisters from childhood and, by around eight, was already baking his own cakes alone to take into his father’s office.

Later, living in London, organising dinners became almost automatic: a message in mid-afternoon could end with a full table a few hours later. Food was always a way of bringing people together.

SERVICE

British does not mean cold

There is an idea that British service is cold or reserved. We think of something else: interaction, respect, attentiveness and someone easy to approach, without turning every table into a performance.

We work to make that style of service consistent across the team: warm, respectful and attentive, regardless of who is on shift. To keep raising that standard, we work with The CXeers, specialists in Customer Experience.

MORE THAN A CAKE COUNTER

A meeting point for British culture

We wanted The Gay Baker to be more than somewhere to buy a slice of cake. Music, decoration, food, tea, gifts and merchandise help create a recognisable place for people with curiosity, affection or a personal connection to the UK.

At both locations you can eat in and take something home: retail tea, gifts and small products inspired by British culture.

Read the stories behind the food →