Description

SALINAS, Calif., — Following a whirlwind grand opening, complete with fanfare and a “royal” visit, Great British Bake Shop co-owners Lesley Everett and Chris Swainson will officially meet the public and cut the ribbon on their new bakery in Oldtown Salinas. The English expat couple will host a free event on Aug. 23 (5–7 p.m.) to celebrate their long-held dream to share traditional baked treats from their homeland. 

The gathering at 8 W. Gabilan St., includes a meet-and-greet, small bakery bites, a tour and a ribbon cutting with the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. There will also be an opportunity drawing for a $100 gift certificate.

 Opened Aug. 1, the bakery promises 5 percent of all sales (up to $750) in August to Partnership for Children, a local nonprofit that provides transportation and family support services for children with life-threatening conditions living in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Representatives from the nonprofit will be on hand during the event to mingle and share inspirational stories about their services. 

The Great British Bake Shop began modestly in 2021 as a sideline business called PG Pyes. Anxious to share treasured family recipes with locals, Everett and Swainson offered freshly baked English meat pies and other delicious bakes sold through Sweet Reba’s in Carmel. Buoyed by their success, the couple quickly expanded into a brick-and-mortar enterprise in Salinas. “The opportunity cropped up in Salinas and we quickly worked out that this might be the ideal location for us to set up a cultural experience from the UK,” Everett said. “Oldtown Salinas is up and coming, rich in culture itself and feels just right.” 

The Great British Bake Shop will expand greatly on PG Pyes’ limited menu, with items such as Sausage Rolls, Pasties, Steak & Ale Pie, British Gravy, Bakewell Tarts, Shortbread and more. The couple will also share bits of British culture, with themes built around Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, Beatrice Potter and, of course, celebrations around the Royal Family. At the bakery’s grand opening on Aug. 1, actors portrayed Queen Elizabeth II and her Royal Guard in a fun-filled day that represented the couple’s whimsical sentiments. “We find people are so interested in the UK and London and often have visited and want to share their experiences, or want to visit,” said Lesley, who hails from Suffolk on the South East Coast while Chris is from the Northwest of England.

“We are really looking forward to hearing their stories and sharing as much about our wonderful culture as possible, even if it’s just our accent that people want to hear!” For more information, visit www.thegreatbritishbakeshop.com.