Member of the Month

Congratulations to Fitzbillies, CBA member of the month for December.

Fitzbillies is a Cambridge institution, delighting town, gown and visitors alike with its buns, cakes and pastries for over 100 years. First opened by Ernest and Arthur Mason in 1920, using their ‘demob’ money from the First World War, it is most famous for its ultra-sticky Chelsea buns, reported to be a favourite of Cambridge alumnus and broadcaster Stephen Fry.

The business is now in the capable hands of Alison Wright and Tim Hayward. Earlier this year, Alison received a lifetime achievement award at the Cambridge Independent Business Awards for her role in saving the shop when it was threatened with closure. With three branches set among the colleges in the city centre, no trip to Cambridge is complete without a visit. Fitzbillies also serves a great cup of coffee and fantastic breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea, designed to show off the bakery produce. To this day, everything is baked in house, in its artisan bakery in the university city.

The team of bakers starts early every morning, baking hundreds of Chelsea buns, as well as a daily selection of sourdough bread, viennoiserie and cakes. It has a diverse and talented team, from head baker Gill Abbs, who has been baking for Fitzbillies for more than 50 years, all the way through to the apprentice bakers.

They are passionate about keeping traditional baking alive, while innovating for a modern and innovative market. As well as serving one of the most popular cities in the UK, Fitzbillies also has an online bakery at fitzbillies.com, posting out to the whole of the UK so that everyone can enjoy the iconic Chelsea buns, afternoon tea and delicious cakes in the comfort of their own home.