The bakery in a world-famous city with queues so long it's had to bring in crowd control

A bakery in the heart of Edinburgh became so popular that it was forced to bring in crowd control after queues began spilling onto the street and raising safety concerns.

Lannan Bakery, located on Hamilton Place in Stockbridge, has seen customer demand soar since opening its doors in July 2023. The shop, run by award-winning Scottish baker Darcie Maher, went viral online for its inventive pastries and regularly attracts lines of eager fans that snake down the street.

But the sheer volume of visitors caused problems in the narrow-pavemented area, particularly during school run hours.

Parents from Stockbridge Primary School reported that the crowds were forcing children onto the road, sparking safety fears.

In response, Lannan had to hire a dedicated queue warden to manage the crowds and ensure pupils and parents could pass safely.

Only eight customers are permitted inside the bakery at one time, and the remainder must wait outside under the steward's supervision.

"The safety of the children and parents at Stockbridge Primary School is a priority for us at Lannan. We continue to work closely with the school and have engaged a queue warden to manage the queue," Ms Maher told BBC Scotland.

"A new full-time member of staff has been brought on board for this purpose."

Lannan's menu changes regularly and includes viennoiserie, custard slices, pains suisses, and cardamom buns, alongside limited-run seasonal creations.

Its success was cemented earlier this year when it was named 'Pastry Opening of the Year' at La Liste's 2024 Pastry Awards.

The bakery's popularity shows no sign of slowing.

This autumn, Ms Maher is expanding the brand with Lannan Pantry, also in Stockbridge, which will offer everything from seasonal vegetables and French cheeses to in-house sausages, terrines and pâté en croûte.

While fans may have to queue a little longer for their favourite pastries, Lannan hopes its new crowd control measures will keep the experience safe for the local community, especially the schoolchildren walking past one of Edinburgh's most in-demand food spots.