Why We Love Lydia’s (and Lydia)

The purple cakery on Newland Avenue has become one of our favourite haunts. Lydia’s serves freshly baked and delicious goods daily, along with a wide selection of hot and cold beverages. It's ideal if you’re working remotely, having an informal meeting, or just catching up with friends. 

Owner Lydia Coyle began baking when she was just four years old, after falling in love with sweet food. From there, she would recreate recipes from cookbooks and TV shows, and nowadays she prefers to put her own twist on traditional sweet treats.
 
Some of her inventive combos include lime shortbread, chocolate and Guinness-infused brownies, and cappuccino cake. Her creativity isn’t limited to the food either, as she regularly serves uniquely flavoured drinks, including caramite (that’s caramel and marmite) hot chocolate, parsnapple (and that’s parsnip and pineapple) smoothies, and London Fog Earl Grey. 
 
On top of this, Lydia ensures that all taste buds, dietary requirements and lifestyle choices are accommodated for, selling a lot of vegan and gluten-free goodies on a daily basis: “The more people that can eat cake, the better,” she tells us with a smile.

Not got a sweet tooth? Don't fret, the delightful cafe also has a light bite menu, including teacakes, bagels and toasties. Meanwhile, their trademark milkshakes are served in glass teapots, and the tea in a vintage-style china teapot.
 
The aesthetic of Lydia’s is admittedly quite feminine, with its shabby chic furniture, and Disney quotes plastered all over the bathroom walls, but this is what makes the place so unique. We particularly love the glass top tables, which Lydia has carefully crafted with pressed flowers, love letters and pages from books. The tables certainly emulate what Lydia’s is all about: happy times, sharing the love, and enjoying a slice of cake. It also presents the perfect opportunity to get stuck into your favourite book or watch the world go by.

An important part of the local community, Lydia’s hosts several regular events, such as film screenings, a knitting and craft club, and a baby and me group. And if you just love cake, there’s a club for that too!  

For the little ones, they have a special toy box so that grownups can catch up with their friends whilst the children are occupied. Then there's the Language Cafe, which welcomes those who speak any language to share skills and practise different tongues.
 
What’s more, if you fall in love with Lydia’s desserts, you can have them cater for your party or celebration. Whether you’re after a statement wedding cake, treating someone for their birthday, or just want a box to take home with you, Lydia’s has got you covered. 

You can find Lydia's at 45 Newland Avenue in Hull. If you pop in, say hello from The Penguins and tag us in a photo so that we can share the sweetness.