Sandwiches in the UK kind of run the gamut from soggy supermarket meal deals to gourmet creations stuffed with pricey bits. Somewhere in the middle of all that, you’ll find the old-school sandwich shop vibe, you know. These plain, no-nonsense places often turn out the best lunch in town — spots where you can just pick up a properly-made egg mayo bap, with a packet of Seabrook Crisps on the side, and if you’re feeling fortunate maybe a homemade Scotch egg too. Here we’re lifting the lid on the top sandwich shops across every region of the UK, from basic cafés selling chip but ties to well-loved local chains that bring the whole nostalgia thing back, one bap at a time.
East of England: The Bodega, Norwich, Norfolk
Bodega in Norwich feels inspired by chef and owner Edd Watkinson’s days in New York, you know. Whenever he was pinched for cash, he’d just pop into a bodega in the city and somehow come out with a stack of interesting, mouthy food for like, a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere. That idea, of loads of food for sensible prices, basically builds The Bodega, a sandwich shop tucked right inside Norwich Market. People came in, and they really piled on the praise for the bold flavours, and the honestly even bolder portions.
Scotland: The Pitlochry Bakery, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Tucked away in that pretty town of Pitlochry, right in the middle of Scotland, The Pitlochry Bakery is this little place people really love, be it locals or visitors. It keeps to the old-school rhythm, know, and does it the old-fashioned way… in-house bakers work through a range of hand-crafted, small-batch breads and pastries, all turned out fresh each morning, and honestly the focaccia and sandwiches come straight from the oven. The sandwiches though are the big reason people pop in, they’re the real star, and they rotate with the seasons. There are also always a vegetarian option and a vegan option too.
Northern Ireland: Stran-wiches, Belfast, County Antrim
Pretty much everything at this cult-favourite sandwich place in Belfast’s Queens Quarter is built from scratch, and people keep talking about the freshly baked subs, buns, and focaccia, like it’s some kind of ritual or so. Here, chefs give the classic fillings, like prawn cocktail and turkey, bacon and coleslaw, a gourmet kind of makeover, using fantastic-quality ingredients and these seriously brilliant, almost house-made sauces. Also, keep an eye out for the specials such as The French Dip, which features tender beef brisket sizzled up on a griddle with onion and provolone cheese, then tucked into a horseradish-buttered roll, while diners enjoy this rich onion broth on the side for dipping.
North West: Galloways Bakers, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Wigan’s contribution to the sandwich hall of fame may not be a looker, but the pie barm (or Wigan kebab) sure is tasty. This delicious car bomb features a simple meat and potato pie, served up in a buttered barm cake, and after that you can tweak it with ketchup, brown sauce, mushy peas, gravy. whatever you’re into. You’ll spot it in chip shops and takeaways all over town, but locals say Galloways, an old-school regional bakery chain with a few branches running across Wigan and the North West, serves some of the finest.
Northern Ireland: The Belfast Bap Company, Belfast, County Antrim
Belfast’s iconic oversized bap is distinctive for its soft, airy middle and a hard crust that feels almost burnt up on the top. The Belfast Bap Company, which is this very busy little kiosk in Belfast’s St George’s Market, is really well known for its huge breakfast baps, stuffed with freshly sizzling Irish bacon, sausages, hash browns and fried eggs, so both locals and tourists are always happy to stand in that long queue. If you want you can also exchange the bap for warm slices of soda or potato bread, instead, no big issue.
East of England: Oyster Shack & Seafood Bar, Epping Forest, Essex
Locals’ kind of know that Oyster Shack & Seafood Bar is one of the best places around for plain-ish sandwiches. This little spot serves bacon, scallop and black pudding–stuffed rolls, finished with a melty layer of thick butter spread over the airy bread. It can sound sort of basic, but the mix of tender scallops and salty savoury meats is actually totally delicious. The fish finger with a herby tartare sauce option is pretty much up there too.
London: Mustard, Bromley
Mustard sort of gained national attention right at the end of 2024 with a run of widely shared videos showing its mouthwatering sandwiches. The menu has a bunch of droolworthy options, like a crispy pork belly, apple sauce, stuffing and a crispy onion sandwich, and then there’s one packed with jerk chicken sweet mash and coleslaw too. They swap in seasonal extras and limited specials so the lineup changes, but honestly it all just looks ridiculously good. Just make sure you grab a napkin before you start eating.
