Laravel Development · Bath & Bristol
I'm a freelance Laravel developer based in Wiltshire near Bath and Bristol, specializing in backend and full-stack development for startups and growing products – including custom web applications and Laravel CRM when you need something built for your business. Laravel is my first choice for new builds: it's fast to ship with, scales well, and fits MVPs, APIs, and SaaS backends. I work with clients across Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire and the UK on greenfield projects, scaling existing Laravel apps, and technical direction.
If you're looking for a Laravel developer in Bath or Bristol – or a freelance full-stack developer who can own the backend and work with your team – get in touch. I also work with Symfony when it's the right fit for an existing codebase or enterprise PHP.
Laravel for Startups
Laravel is built for speed of development and onboarding. Strong defaults for routing, migrations, queues, authentication, and API resources mean you get a working app quickly without deciding every detail. That makes it ideal for startups, MVPs, and most new PHP backends. I've helped teams in Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire and across the UK ship their first version and then scale.
I focus on problem-solving and delivery rather than tech for its own sake: clear architecture, maintainable code, and decisions that suit your stage. If you're building an MVP or early-stage product and want a freelance Laravel developer who can own the backend and integrate with your front-end (including React or other stacks), reach out.
Laravel API Development
Laravel's API resources, validation, and ecosystem make it a strong choice for building REST or API-first backends. I design and build APIs that are consistent, well-documented, and easy for your front-end or mobile team to consume. That includes authentication (e.g. Sanctum), versioning, rate limiting, and clear error handling.
I've written about API design for startups and apply those principles to Laravel projects. If your product needs a robust API backend – whether for a web app, mobile app, or third-party integrations – Laravel in Bath, Bristol or remote is a solid fit. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss your API needs.
Scaling Laravel
Laravel scales to serious traffic and complexity. I help teams in the South West and UK scale their Laravel applications: database optimisation (MySQL and MariaDB), queue workers, caching (Redis, Memcached), and infrastructure choices. I've written about scaling Laravel backends and Laravel queues for startups – both relevant when your product grows.
Whether you're preparing for a launch, dealing with growth, or refactoring for performance, I can help with architecture reviews, bottleneck identification, and implementation. Based near Bath and Bristol, I work with startups and scale-ups across Wiltshire and the UK. Get in touch if you'd like to talk through scaling or performance.
Database & Backend
Laravel's migration system and Eloquent ORM work well with MySQL and MariaDB – the database engines I use most. I design schemas and queries that stay maintainable as your data grows, and I've written about database design for startups. For heavier workloads, I use queues, job batching, and read replicas where appropriate.
If your Laravel app is outgrowing its current setup – slow queries, locking issues, or unclear data model – I can help with audits, indexing, and refactoring. Freelance Laravel and backend development in Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss your database or backend needs.
Laravel or Symfony?
For most new greenfield work – including in Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire – I recommend Laravel first. It's faster to ship with, has strong conventions, and scales well. I use Symfony when it's the right fit: existing Symfony codebases, clients who've standardised on Symfony, or problems that benefit from Symfony's modularity. I've written a practical comparison: Symfony vs Laravel: when to choose which.
If you're unsure which framework fits your project, we can talk it through. I offer both as a freelance PHP developer in the South West and UK – Laravel for most new builds, Symfony when it's the right fit.