International Women's Day 2025: Women-owned businesses in London
One of the easiest ways to celebrate International Women's Day is by supporting some of the fantastic women-owned businesses in London. From iconic bars to coffee shops with a purpose, female entrepreneurs have created some of the most exciting businesses in the city.
Here are some of our favourite women-led businesses in London.
Restaurants, Bars, & Cafes
Sourdough Sophia, Sophia Handschuh
What started as a lockdown hobby, Sourdough Sophia is now a popular North London bakery with two adorable pink storefronts in Crouch End and Islington. The Sophia behind the sourdough, Sophia Handschuh, turned her love of baking into neighbourhood cafes, selling pastries and coffee alongside her trademark sourdough loaves.
The bakery has garnered a lot of attention on social media and Handschuh uses her platform to give a behind-the-scenes look at her business. She shares insights into how she and her husband initially developed Sourdough Sophia and how they plan to expand in the future - new locations are currently in the works!
Crouch End, N8 | sourdoughsophia.co.uk
Fair Shot Cafe, Bianca Tavella
Next time you think about grabbing a coffee from a chain coffee shop, consider if your daily latte could support a better cause. At Fair Shot Cafe, getting your caffeine fix helps empower young adults with learning difficulties. Founded by Bianca Tavella, the Covent Garden cafe is the result of her experiences growing up around people with disabilities and her passion for great coffee.
Fair Shot offers a Supported Internship Programme for individuals with learning disabilities to gain employable skills working as baristas. Once they have graduated, Tavella’s team works with various employers to help their cohort find work after the programme. Proceeds from this not-for-profit social enterprise cafe go entirely to training their current cohort and supporting graduates.
Covent Garden, WC2E | fairshot.co.uk
Dark Sugars, Nyanga Fatou Mende
With shops that would give Wonka's Chocolate Factory a run for its money, Dark Sugars is a must visit for the chocolate lovers of London. Founded by Nyanga Fatou Mende, the shop is a celebration of cocoa from South America and West Africa. Mende was determined to bring authentic chocolate to London starting with a stall in Spitalfields Market and now two shops in Greenwich and Brick Lane.
Dark Sugars is known for its tempting mountains of chocolate truffles and decadent hot chocolates covered in chocolate shavings.
Tower Hamlets, E1, Greenwich SE10 | darksugars.co.uk
Cavita, Adriana Cavita
Good Mexican food can be difficult to come by in London. Luckily, Chef Adriana Cavita has brought authentic Mexican cuisine to Marylebone with a personal flair. This Michelin-starred restaurant features a menu inspired by Cavita’s childhood in Mexico City and her passion for traditional cooking techniques. The airy interiors filled with greenery evoke the feeling of being in Cavita’s grandmother’s home and create a warm, familial atmosphere.
Cavita serves savoury brunch options and a dinner menu of street tacos and family-style sharing plates. Downstairs at El Bar de Cavita, you can order a cocktail infused with Mexican flavours or a refreshing non-alcoholic agua fresca or horchata.
Marylebone, W1U | cavitarestaurant.com
The George Tavern, Pauline Foster
What do Charles Dickens and Kate Moss have in common? The George Tavern - one of the oldest pubs in London that's been around long enough to be mentioned in a Dickens novel and be a popular spot for noughties supermodels.
Owned by artist Pauline Foster, The George Tavern is a staple of the arts community in east London that has required quite a bit of tenacity to keep open. Foster has continually fought off housing developers with their eyes on the historic building. In 2008, with the help of Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse the "Save The George Tavern" campaign helped Foster win her case and created one of the most iconic t-shirts of all time.
Today, The George Tavern is a lively pub and music venue with nightly live music from underground bands.
Shadwell, E1 | thegeorgetavern.london
Shops
BookBar, Chrissy Ryan
If it's your dream to own a bookshop that's also a coffee shop and wine bar, Chrissy Ryan is living out your Meg Ryan fantasies with BookBar. This cosy Highbury bookshop has taken the internet by storm attracting readers to browse the colourful shelves and savour the book-shopping experience with a coffee or glass of wine.
Through her lovely bookshop, Ryan has also created a thriving bookish community. The BookBar book club connects readers to each other and the authors themselves. BookBar frequently hosts the authors of their monthly picks to discuss their work at the bookshop or venues throughout London. Previous events have included Q&As and signings with Emily Ratajowski, Dolly Alderton, and Caleb Azuma Nelson.
Highbury, N5 | bookbaruk.com
Choosing Keeping, Julia Jeuvell
In a world of mass-produced products and AI-generated content, Choosing Keeping is a haven of handmade, artisan stationery goods. Inspired by owner Julia Jeuvell’s passion for the nostalgia of objects that stand the test of time, the shop offers a selection of thoughtfully curated pens, notebooks, and other delightful tools for creativity. She encourages customers to intentionally “choose” their purchases and “keep” them for years to come.
The longevity of these items is the result of Jeuvell’s labour of love, sourcing products from mostly family-run, high-quality suppliers.
Covent Garden, WC2H | choosingkeeping.com
The Pop-Up Club, Tillie Peel
Many of us want to support independent makers and artisans but small businesses can often be overshadowed by the convenience of major retailers. Tillie Peel is on a mission to bring handcrafted goods to the high street and create unique in-person shopping experiences with The Pop-Up Club. These innovative retail spaces bring together local makers to offer their products in malls and retail parks across London and Southeast England.
Many of the vendors are women, giving female entrepreneurs opportunities to showcase their work in dynamic retail spaces. Peel also provides advice and guidance for the traders, sharing resources for growing a business on The Pop-Up Club’s social media.
Various locations | popupclub.co
Editor's note: Spot any incorrect information? Or have an article idea for HeadBox.com? Get in touch at submissions@headbox.com