British food finds new fans in America as pop culture brings traditional recipes and old-world charm into the modern era. Popular shows like “The Great British Bake Off” and “Bridgerton” inspire Americans to swap cupcakes for Victoria sponges and bring the afternoon tea culture into their homes. The trend extends to cafes and bakeries serving British classics that bring a taste of London and Yorkshire to local neighborhoods.
This post may contain affiliate link(s). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosures.
Even grocery shelves are now filled with snacks and staples once found mostly in U.K. kitchens. Shops from New York to Chicago carry imported jams, teas and biscuits that let shoppers enjoy a small taste of classic British flavor at home.
Shows drive America’s British food craze
When “The Great British Bake Off” reached the United States, it became “The Great British Baking Show,” often shortened to GBBS. The show, which features a competition where amateur bakers tackle technical challenges and showstopping creations, streams nationwide and has reignited interest in classic bakes. The program has since reshaped how Americans see British desserts, spotlighting popular recipes such as scones, glazed donuts and banoffee pies.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” a Regency‑era drama filled with opulent sets and lavish dining scenes, draws massive attention, garnering 2.76 billion minutes of U.S. viewing time in one week of May 2024. The trend extends into everyday life as fans recreate pastel table spreads with tiered trays, delicate cups and finger sandwiches, while TikTok clips of Bridgerton‑themed tea parties rack up thousands of views.
TikTok makes cakes lifestyle icons
Hashtags like #cottagecorebaking, an online aesthetic that celebrates rustic charm and simplicity, rack up thousands of posts featuring English muffins and strawberry cakes against floral backdrops. The cottagecore trend reflects a longing for countryside coziness, and British food slips neatly into that vision.
Restaurants and bakeries catch the wave
British food is securing a place on American tables, with desserts and savory treats appearing in more restaurants and cafes. Tea & Sympathy, a British restaurant and shop in the heart of New York’s West Village, has spent more than three decades serving afternoon tea, shepherd’s pies, Sunday roasts and other classics since opening in 1990.
In Pasadena, Rose Tree Cottage highlights its English Village Loose Leaf Tea, a blend of Ceylon, Indian and Kenyan leaves that patrons praise for its rich flavor. The tea house also offers traditional hot cross buns, served warm with English butter and plum jam as a seasonal treat, and Wilkin & Son’s Tiptree Little Scarlet Strawberry Preserve, a rare jam that regulars often describe as unforgettable.
Finally, Pleasant House Pub in Chicago started as Pleasant House Bakery and now welcomes guests into a public house. The menu highlights royal pies, British‑inspired dishes, specialty beers and cocktails, with locally roasted coffee finishing off the experience. The owners emphasize a playful spirit, encouraging guests to feel at home from morning to midnight.
Retail and grocery adapt to demand
British shops in the U.S. show that demand extends beyond cafes and restaurants into the retail aisle. These markets give shoppers access to goods that reflect U.K. traditions and provide a connection to British culture.
One example is Myers of Keswick in New York, inspired by the market town of Keswick in North West England. Peter Myers founded the store in 1985, and the family has since passed it to the next generation while preserving its English authenticity. It stocks grocery and household items rarely found in American shops, alongside freshly made goods such as meat pies, Cornish pasties, Scotch eggs and sausages.
Another example is Jolly Posh British Goods in Chicago, founded in 2009 to give expatriates and locals a true taste of home. What began as a stall at farmers’ markets has grown into a business that supplies sausages, bacon and other British specialties to households, restaurants and retailers across the country.
A toast to Britain’s rising flavor
British food in the U.S. has moved beyond shepherd’s pie and sausage rolls to shape your tea time and grocery basket. TikTok creators and corner pubs keep the trend steady, giving it both social media flair and neighborhood charm. Call it a second invasion, only this time, clotted cream and scones lead the charge.
Zuzana Paar is the visionary behind five inspiring websites: Amazing Travel Life, Low Carb No Carb, Best Clean Eating, Tiny Batch Cooking and Sustainable Life Ideas. As a content creator, recipe developer, blogger and photographer, Zuzana shares her diverse skills through breathtaking travel adventures, healthy recipes and eco-friendly living tips. Her work inspires readers to live their best, healthiest and most sustainable lives.