I nipped to M&S for some top up food this morning - the market was looking very sparse sadly. On the way home I dropped into Fitzbillies for a takeaway tea and a bag of tea cakes (in the fridge as I then remembered I’d made the blueberry scones). They turned 100 years old in 2020 and obviously the celebrations have been rather muted. Business was very good and they opened this newer cafe but it’s been a struggle for them and all the cafes of course. The original shop in particular does a roaring ‘sit in’ trade from breakfast to afternoon tea with locals and many many tourists but that has been decimated. Then things got even worse because Tim Hayward who owns it spent December in intensive care with Covid. He’s a writer and broadcaster and has described the dreadful hallucinations which still haunt him as he tries to get over the physical effects. He also voiced what I think everybody in Cambridge feels - that we are very grateful for two world class hospitals in our city.
PS Magdalene College reflected in the window.
Weather: everything - Misty, sunny, chucking it down
Covid: numbers creeping back up in Cambridge
Good thing: one of our community fridge volunteers told me how wonderful his Parkinson’s consultant is - he happens to be a neighbour (& he is wonderful and a world leader) so I was able to pass on the love.
A wonderful example of the times...Covid & all its ramifications ....how sad for everyone in business, all the worries of keeping your head above water. How we are longing to go in cafes & have a coffee & cake with friends. When were allowed they will do great business! Congratulations to Fitzbillies...that is a grand name!
Love how you have captured the interior AND the reflections, it must have taken some positioning! Sad to hear of all the small businesses that are struggling, as well as the struggles of the owner.
Oh you cannot beat Fitzbillies! Many years ago, I had a boyfriend at Downing and he sent me a box of their chocolates. Years later, when I returned to Cambridge I found the chocolate part of the business wasn't happening in the same way but those amazing Chelsea buns were.........what a dream they are to eat once in a while! Love stopping in there for a light lunch. Glad they are still able to run a takeaway to keep going.
@casablanca I noticed they do gift boxes but a bit pricey to buy and post so I reluctantly didn’t get one. Their cookery book is rather lovely though - I bought one for my daughter in Canada as she waitressed there for a while between degrees. V busy but good tips.
I am worrying about Covid numbers again.