1741
Day's was founded in 1741 in Ashwell and is likely one of the oldest remaining bakeries in the country. It has been run by family members throughout its long existence and prides itself on quality, remaining very much a village bakery.
1953
The business has continued to thrive through generations, and Howard Day took over in 1953 after surviving two plane crashes in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. Howard prioritized high quality and business expansion.
Howard Day
1993
In his later years, he fell seriously ill and was compelled to sell the business to Nick Dorrington and his brother, James, in 1996.In the last year of his life, Howard was a tremendous support to Nick as he passed on the family business. He loved sharing his personal recipes, many of which are still proudly used today. Howard also trained our current manager, Clive Draper, continuing his legacy.
Clive Draper, Head Baker
2026
Over the past two years, Day’s has been carefully developing its artisan offering, rooted in traditional recipes, local ingredients, and craft baking carried out in our village bakery. This initiative is led by George Dorrington, representing the next generation of the business, with a strong focus on quality, provenance, and time-honoured methods.
Building on this vision, Day’s acquired the Village Shop in Great Chesterford and Newton, transforming a traditional bakery into Day’s Food Hall. The Food Hall brings together a café, bakery, and deli, showcasing freshly baked goods made using classic recipes alongside carefully sourced local produce. While remaining true to our artisan roots, the business has continued to grow and now operates 13 shops. We have also introduced ‘food to go’, which has become an important part of the business, created with the same commitment to freshness, craftsmanship, and quality.
