Local first
Our coffee, meat, eggs, bread and milk all come from Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire suppliers we know by name.
Our story
Lauren's Cafe opened its doors on the High Street in spring 2016 with one simple idea: Leighton Buzzard deserved a proper independent cafe.
From market stall to High Street
Lauren Whitmore started out selling homemade cakes on Leighton Buzzard's Tuesday market. When the old stationer's at number 12 came up for lease, she took a deep breath, borrowed a sander, and spent three months turning it into the cafe you see today, with a lot of help from family and friends.
Ten years on, the recipe hasn't changed: coffee roasted just up the road in Bedfordshire, sausages and bacon from our local butcher, sourdough from our neighbourhood bakery, and cakes baked in our own kitchen every single morning.
What we believe in
Everyone's welcome
Dogs, prams, laptops, book clubs and muddy walkers off the Grand Union Canal. Take a seat.
Waste less
We compost our grounds, donate unsold food through Too Good To Go, and knock 20p off drinks in reusable cups.
The team
There are eight of us in the team, led by Lauren and head barista Tom. Between us we've clocked up more than 40 years of hospitality experience, and our baristas train with our roastery every season.
As featured in
Leighton Buzzard Observer 'Best Independent Cafe' 2023 and 2025. Muddy Stilettos Beds & Bucks finalist 2024.