Fitzbillies

52°12′7.2″N 0°7′5.2″E

Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street, Cambridge

A Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies

Fitzbillies is a small chain of three bakery-cafes in Cambridge, England. The company is known for its Chelsea buns.[1]

It was founded in November 1920 as an independent bakery on Trumpington Street, Cambridge, taking its name from its location near Fitzwilliam Museum.[1]

Fitzbillies suffered from two bankruptcies, in 1980 and 2011, but in both cases recovered from the bankruptcy and resumed business. A fire in 1998 saw the bakery partially closed for two years.[2]

Following the 2011 bankruptcy, a public appeal by broadcaster and Cambridge alumnus Stephen Fry encouraged restaurateur Tim Hayward to buy Fitzbillies and reopen it.[3] Later Fitzbillies expanded to three locations, including Bridge Street (open 2016)[4] and King's Parade (open 2023).[5]

References

1. "Students help to turn 100-year-old bakery into thriving online business". University of Cambridge. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
2. Atta, Fareid (2022-02-13). "The curious 100-year history of the Fitzbillies Chelsea bun". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
3. "Famous Cambridge bakery to reopen". 2 August 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
4. "Fitzbillies co-owner Tim Hayward on taking over a Cambridge institution". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
5. "Cambridge bakery Fitzbillies to open new King's Parade site". Cambridge Independent. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-04-02.