THE STORY OF FITZBILLIES
Experience the rich history of Fitzbillies Cambridge, historic cafés and a beloved bakery that have been serving traditional British cuisine since 1921.
From our famous Chelsea buns to our classic lunches, we celebrate the tastes of a bygone era with a contemporary twist. Come and taste a piece of Cambridge's history.
CHAPTER ONE
THE FOUNDING OF FITZBILLIES
Fitzbillies was founded in 1920 by Ernest and Arthur Mason, using their ‘demob’ money from the First World War. Their initials are still visible in worn-out gold letters on the shop front.
They were the sons of local baker ‘Ticker’ Mason, who had a shop further up Trumpington Street, where Pages coffee shop is now. Ticker was a bread maker, so his boys specialised in fancy cakes, and of course, Chelsea buns.
CHAPTER TWO
THE EARLY YEARS
Fitzbillies quickly became the cake-shop of choice for the university and townsfolk. Initially it was famous for its special Fitzbillies sponge cake. A local historian told us...
'I was born in Cambridge in 1926, in a don's family. Before WW2, no don's family tea table would have been complete without a Fitzbillies Sponge Cake, it was the thing for which Fitzbillies was famous. Chelsea buns were on offer, but it was the cake that carried the flag. And it was very good, and it was often preceded at the tea table by cucumber sandwiches on brown bread with the crusts cut off.'
CHAPTER THREE
AFTER THE WAR
Fitzbillies kept baking during and after the Second World War. The Chelsea buns were a rare treat in the days of rationing. In the Observer Guide to British Cookery Jane Grigson wrote...
'When the war was over, everyone thought food queues would be over, too. In fact, everything continued as greyly as before, and the most anxious queues I had ever joined were outside Fitzbillies in Cambridge. No undergraduate tea party was complete without their Chelsea buns, syrupy, well spiced, licentious and exceptional during the years of ersatz cakes and shortages. I still think they are the best Chelsea buns I have ever eaten.'
CHAPTER FOUR
TOUGH TIMES FOR FITZBILLIES
After the boom of the post war years, the 1980s and 90s were a much tougher time for small bakeries. They faced growing competition from supermarkets and takeaways, and Fitzbillies was no exception. In 1991, Fitzbillies went bankrupt for the first time, but was bought out of receivership and relaunched.
Then in 1998 the premises were devastated by fire. It took nearly two years to rebuild, however the business kept going, baking offsite and selling Chelsea buns in the shop next door to the original, on the corner of Pembroke Street, where our Coffee Shop is now.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE RELAUNCH OF FITZBILLIES
In 2011, like many bakeries on high streets all over the UK, Fitzbillies succumbed to difficult trading conditions and closed due to bankruptcy for the second time. Stephen Fry posted a lament to the Chelsea Buns on twitter and that was seen by current owners Alison Wright and Tim Hayward.
A Cambridge girl, with fond childhood memories of Fitzbillies, Alison left her career in London to rescue and relaunch the ailing business. Soon the business was thriving again, with a second branch in Bridge Street and a larger bakery making artisan bread as well as the cakes and Chelsea buns.
CHAPTER SIX
THE 100TH BIRTHDAY
In 2020, Fitzbillies celebrated its 100th birthday. Tim and Alison wrote a book to celebrate: 'Fitzbillies — The Stories & Recipes of a 100 Year Old Cambridge Bakery', which is available to buy in our branches and on our website.
CHAPTER SEVEN
OUR SECOND CENTURY
In October 2023, we opened our Cake Shop in the old barber shop next to Trumpington Street, creating three frontages in a row in our little historic corner. Two months later, in early December 2023, we opened our King's Parade branch, with a stunning view of King's College Chapel — surely coffee with the best view in Cambridge. It has been a long-standing dream to open on King's Parade, and we're delighted to be at home in number 25.