I’ve not been to Ashwell for decades and today I had 30 mins to kill whilst waiting to pick someone up nearby. I parked outside the village stores and wandered down the main street where I happened upon Days bakery. Ashwell has so many picture post card houses and pubs but the bakery - which I didn’t know about - was a nice surprise. Well stocked, bubbling with people, friendly staff, sandwiches, pastries and bakes galore. I went for a simple trio of plump iced doughnuts to takeaway. These were served in a proud blue box ‘Days - Hand made in Ashwell - est 1741’.

The box prompted me to go online to see the history of the bakery which must be one of the UK’s longest surviving bakeries. That put a little spring in my step. The buns survived the ride home and were delicious. I wish I’d paid a bit more attention to what else was on sale had I realised how old the shop was. But everything looked superb.