The Bakery (recording studio)

The Bakery was a recording studio at 4A Fleet Road in Hampstead, London. Coldplay founded it in 2006, after the release of X&Y, to have a place for rehearsing, writing, working, and resting. The studio got its name because it was set up inside a former bakery. Its creation coincided with Phil Harvey’s return to the band for the album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. Four years later, Coldplay opened a sister building called the Beehive at 17 Fleet Road. Both spaces were used for later albums, until the Bakery was shut down and the Beehive renovated in the 2020s.

Foundation Following X&Y, Coldplay decided to build their own studio. Chris Martin said their previous workspace felt dirty and bleak, and the band members were not communicating well. In 2006, they rented an old bakery to reset and made it their base. The entrance at 4A Fleet Road sat between an estate agent and a restaurant. Will Champion described it as a larger version of Jonny Buckland’s bedroom from their university days at University College London. Producers Dan Green and Rik Simpson turned the ground floor into a studio—good for overdubs but tricky for full-band recordings. Management offices were located directly above.

Recording The first Coldplay album recorded at the Bakery was Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, from November 2006 to April 2008. Champion said the band visited every day without pressure, simply working on music—a big change from earlier studio experiences, where many recordings were scrapped or redone because more rehearsal and writing were needed. The sessions also marked Phil Harvey’s return. Producer Brian Eno and violinist Davide Rossi supported the creative process. Under Eno, Coldplay learned new songwriting, recording, and experimentation methods. After that album’s release, the Bakery stayed fully functional, mainly for programming and editing. It closed in 2024 due to reduced use.

The Beehive Opened in January 2010, the Beehive was a former church hall at 17 Fleet Road, converted into the Bakery’s sister building. Rik Simpson said its large space allowed him to record the whole band properly, and because everyone was in the same room, communication improved.