Cronut crazy: pastry fans queue up at 5am for first taste

Early risers queued from 5.20am today to get their hands on the holy grail of breakfast pastries: an original cronut.

The croissant-doughnut hybrid is the creation of Dominique Ansel, a French-American chef who first served up his cult creation at his bakery in Soho, Manhattan, in 2013. Today the chef, 39, opened the doors of his first London bakery on Elizabeth Street in Belgravia.

Although versions of the pastry have been served in London before, it is the first time the original creation — which has been trademarked — has been made available at a Dominique Ansel bakery.

Shoppers were limited to two cronuts, costing £4 each, but could buy as many other products as they wanted.

One of the first people in the queue, which by 9am stretched for 50 metres, was Rebecca Dempsey, 24. The events coordinator from Southampton had got on a bus at 3am to ensure she was outside the shop by 5.20am.

“I tried Dominique’s creations when I was in America four or five years ago and I loved them,” she said. “As soon as I heard he was opening in the UK, I followed progress online and when I knew it was opening today I booked a day off work. There was no way I wasn’t going to be here. I’ve spent £56.”