Tag: Barkers Bakery

  • Barkers Bakery ousted from Histon shop

    Barkers Bakery ousted from Histon shop

    Notices have appeared in the window of Barkers Bakery on Histon High Street stating the landlord has now seized the property and the locks have been changed.

    A ‘Notice of Forfeiture’ was posted in the window by Iridium Enforcement earlier this week. It means landlord James Howarth & Co. Ltd is taking action to end the lease and regain possession of the property because the tenant has breached the terms of that lease. 

    The notice says: “No unauthorised persons are permitted entry unless with prior consent and knowledge from the landlord” and points out that “it is a criminal offence to break an entry in this property”.

    A second notice gives the tenant until 15 April to recover any belongings that belong to them, else the landlord or managing agent may “dispose of them as seen fit”.

    HI HUB has made multiple attempts to contact Barkers Bakery HQ, including calls to four Barkers Bakery branches that went unanswered. The former Cottenham High Street branch has been taken over by another bakery business. 

    Safety concerns

    The closure of the bakery comes after food operators stocking the bakery’s products received an “urgent food safety alert” last month from South Cambridgeshire District Council. 

    The letter advised businesses to remove goods supplied to them from Barkers Bakery HQ in Cottenham because of “serious hygiene issues at their premises”. They were also warned “failure to take appropriate action may pose a risk to public health”. 

    The Council’s Waste and Environment team later extended their alert to Kings Cliffe Bakery products as well because this second brand was also operating from the same facility in Cottenham.

    Change of ownership

    Barkers Bakery was a family business established in 1950, but family members and others resigned their directorships two years ago in April 2023. Another director, Karen Lewis, was appointed to continue the business. 

    A new director was appointed on 21 March 2025 and this week the company’s registered office changed from the bakery’s Histon branch to an address in Liverpool. GTGUK Services, described as a “financial intermediation” company and also headed by Karen Lewis, was registered as “a person with significant control” on 8 April. 

    ‘Very sad news’

    Since the Histon branch’s closure, customers have taken to social media, upset that the High Street has lost another established business. One described it as “very sad news” and many sent their thoughts to the staff who worked there. 

    They added: “I have been having Barker’s bread for the last 68 years. Certainly will be missed in the Village and feel very sorry for all the staff who have lost their jobs at a difficult time.” 

    Another said: “What a shame, best bacon rolls around this area.”

    READ MORE: ‘Urgent food safety’ alert issued for Barkers Bakery

  • ‘Urgent food safety’ alert issued for Barkers Bakery

    Local food operators stocking products from Barkers Bakery, including shops and cafes in Histon & Impington, have received an “urgent food safety alert” requiring them to take immediate action.

    In a letter from the Waste and Environment team at South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC), dated 26 March, business operators were informed of ,“an urgent food safety matter concerning products supplied by Barkers Bakery of Broad Lane Industrial Estate, Cottenham” – relating to “serious hygiene issues at their premises”.

    The letter continued: “As a precautionary measure we advise all businesses that have received products from Barkers Bakery to cease use of all products immediately and remove and dispose of all stock, including those that may have been frozen.”

    The company’s premises in Broad Lane Cottenham serves as both its bakehouse and business headquarters.

    Local businesses who sell Barkers products have also been warned that “failure to take appropriate action may pose a risk to public health.”

    Barkers Bakery provides goods for both wholesale and retail customers in five stores across Cambridgeshire, including branches on Histon High Street and in Cottenham.

    The advice from the council’s Waste and Environment team could also apply to members of the public who may have purchased and frozen items produced by the bakery. Based on its warning to food business operators, these should be disposed of.

    Business as usual

    As of this morning (27 March), the Barkers’ outlet in Histon remains open to the public. Customers can continue to buy sandwiches, savouries and wrapped produce, but the bread shelves are bare.

    A handwritten notice on the shop door states: “Due to lack of delivery, we have no bread. Sorry.” HI HUB has been informed by a source close to the company that they “think the bakehouse is being refurbished.”

    Barkers’ goods are stocked by local businesses including Co-op stores but today an empty shelf remained where Barkers’ bread would normally be stocked.

    A spokesperson for South Cambridgeshire District Council said: “We’re investigating hygiene issues we found during a routine inspection of Barkers Bakery in Cottenham on Wednesday 19 March. During that inspection, the bakery chose to voluntarily close, so they could carry out work to rectify the issues”.

    HI HUB has reached out to Barkers Bakery for comment but, at time of publication, no response has yet been received.

    Anyone with concerns should email commercial.envhealth@scambs.gov.uk

    Updated 28 March 2025 – SCDC Waste and Environment team have issued further advice concerning affected products as follows:

    “In our initial alert, we advised businesses to dispose of all Barkers Bakery products due to possible contamination issues during production. We are now extending this precaution to include all Kings Cliffe Bakery products as well.

    “It has come to our attention that these two businesses, which previously operated separately, have now merged and are operating from Barkers Bakery, Broad Lane, Cottenham while continuing to use both brand names. Due to a lack of full traceability, and possible contamination of products, all products under both brands should be disposed of immediately”.