Owners of Cleveleys bakery hang up their aprons

Owners of a family-run Cleveleys bakery are selling up to enjoy retirement with their grandchildren, more than 70 years after it originally opened.
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Taylors of Cleveleys, Anchorsholme Lane East, first opened 73 years ago as "Whittakers," when Mary and Phillip Whittaker began the bakery business after moving to Cleveleys from Great Harwood with their four children.

The current owners’ parents, Jeanne and Geoff Taylor, met at Blackpool Bakery School before joining the business when Phillip and Mary Whittaker retired in 1963, changing the name to G&J Taylors.

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Taylors is now owned by the third generation of the family, siblings Julia McDonald, Catherine Hughes and Andrew Taylor, who inherited it from their parents in 1977.

Julia McDonald, Andrew Taylor and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PRJulia McDonald, Andrew Taylor and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PR
Julia McDonald, Andrew Taylor and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PR

Julia said: “Our family have always taken the art of baking seriously.

"We are so proud of our grandparents’ recipes and it has been an amazing experience watching our produce evolve and diversify over the years.

“We are always busy, and we are unable to dedicate lots of time to our families as we all have grandchildren now.

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"The business has a lot of wonderful history and memories, but we are ready to hand the keys over to a new owner now."

Andrew Taylor, Julia McDonald and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PRAndrew Taylor, Julia McDonald and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PR
Andrew Taylor, Julia McDonald and Catherine Hughes are selling their bakery Taylors of Cleveleys to enjoy their retirement. Photo: Recognition PR

She was sad that the business had come to an end, but it was on a happy ending after serving over 150 Christmas dinners for the elderly in 2019, she said.

The bakery is being sold by Hilton Smythe for £374,995 plus stock at valuation, and the owners are offering a handover period to ensure the continued success of the business.

It will be open as usual until a buyer has been found.

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