From a ‘bap’ to a ‘cob’ and everything in between, there are a multitude of terms for a bread roll across the UK

Across the UK, what you call a bread roll varies dramatically depending on where you’re from. In Liverpool, many use barm, while in the Midlands (including Nottingham), it’s typically known as a cob. Up north, especially in Yorkshire and Manchester, locals prefer calling it a bap.

Additional terms such as “barmcake, “breadcake, “bun,” and “roll” are scattered throughout different regions. So which one is ‘the best’? A 2018 YouGov poll questioned nearly 25,000 English residents about their preferred terminology for a bread roll. ‘Roll’ emerged as the most widespread choice, favoured by 52% of respondents across most of the nation.

The word ‘cob’ was chosen by 8% of English participants, proving especially beloved in certain Midlands areas. ‘Bun’ (10%) dominates in the North East, with most residents in Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland counties using this term.

‘Barm cake’ (6%) reigns supreme in Greater Manchester. ‘Bap’ (6%) proves popular amongst folks in Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire, reports the Daily Record.

Beyond geography, this language choice becomes a source of regional identity and often sparks rather passionate debates amongst UK citizens. Most people would argue there’s no single correct answer, since your chosen word depends entirely on your UK location.

Yet not everyone accepts this view, with some firmly convinced there are definitive right and wrong responses, irrespective of geography. A recent post on Reddit’s r/BritInfo by user LovieWeb has sparked a lively debate, asking: “Bap, barm, cob, roll… what do you call it where you live?”

The question quickly drew hundreds of responses in the comments section. One participant said: “It’s a barm cake.” Another insisted: “Its a batch. Ive taught my kids to call it a batch.”

A third said: “Breadcake, Yorkshire, God’s Own Country!” One comment that raised eyebrows was: “It’s a roll. Other names are silly.” Another user said: “Cob is crusty . Or a crusty roll. Gets confusing when you ask for a sausage roll … a bun is different to a bap, but a bap is a batch. Barm is where it gets weird.”

One curious Redditor asked: “It’s weird that such an everyday item has so many different names up and down the country. Does anything else have so many different names?”

In a separate thread titled: “What do you call a bread roll?”, another heated discussion ensued among users. In the r/AskUK subforum, Key_Milk_9222 asked: “I’ve lived in south america for a long time and people always ask me about the UK and what is important to British people. When I tell them they fail to understand the importance of what a bread roll is actually called.”

One responded: “Bread roll.” A second said: “No, a bap is only for a very large one. In general the word is ‘cob’.” A third wrote: “It is most definitely a cob.” Another person declared: “It is a bread roll.” Someone else said: “Ok, so we’re all agreed that it’s a bap?” Another concluded: “What’s more bizarre is that people keep asking this question, knowing there’s no right answer, or that others keep replying and arguing about something irrelevant.”

What are the different variations?

• Cob: Used in the East Midlands for a traditional bread roll.
• Bap: Used further north, particularly in parts of the North West and Yorkshire.
• Barmcake: Common in the North of England, including Manchester.
• Breadcake: Another name used in Yorkshire for a bread roll.
• Roll: A more generic name used in the South of the UK and Scotland.
• Other regional terms include “bun” and “batch”.

Why is there such confusion?

The UK is home to a rich tapestry of local dialects, leading to various names for the same food item. People often use their regional term as a badge of identity. For example, some Reddit users distinguish between a “cob,” referring to a crusty roll, and a “bap” or “barmcake,” indicating a softer roll.