A much-loved Oxford confectionery business is preparing to make a comeback in the city centre more than two years after departing its original home.
The Cake Shop will open at 3 Golden Cross from mid-November, restoring its presence in the city where operations first began in 1986.
The enterprise vacated its long-established premises in the historic Covered Market during May 2024, concluding a 38-year tenure at that location.
The business subsequently shifted to larger facilities at 3 Mill Walk in Witney.
At the time of that relocation, officials cited traffic limitations, difficulties with vehicle access, the Zero Emission Zone implementation, structural deficiencies, and elevated rental costs as factors making city-centre operations untenable.
Local residents regarded the departure as marking the conclusion of a significant era.
The bakery’s intricately designed celebration cakes had become a well-known feature for those frequenting the Covered Market.
Oxford City Council publicly expressed regret at the popular establishment’s exit.
In 2017, the then-Prince of Wales visited the establishment while touring the market.
Management has now disclosed plans to return to Oxford, describing the initiative as an exciting new chapter.
The retail outlet will stock standard cakes alongside customised products, with made-to-order celebration cakes still available through a dedicated consultation service.
The new premises occupy units within Golden Cross, a covered shopping arcade providing a link between Cornmarket Street and the Covered Market.
The space previously hosted various retail ventures, most recently gift and specialty retailers.
Representatives for the bakery indicated the team was eager to resume serving customers in the city centre and to return to the location where the business first commenced almost four decades ago.