News Detail

End of an era for family bakery

Release Date: Fri 30 May 2008

A traditional Sheffield bakery that has been in the same family for over 55 years is coming up for sale.

Dora's, on Middlewood Road, was first opened in 1951 by Laurie MacKenzie and his mother-in-law Dora Webster. Selling products freshly made on the premises from bread to sausage rolls, pies and cakes, the business went from strength-to-strength over the years and is still a well known landmark in Hillsborough.

The property is now on offer at Auction House Blundells first ever auction on June 10 at Sheffield Park Hotel, Chesterfield Road South.

Iain Mackenzie (53), son of Laurie, said: “After the war my father was playing football for the RAF when he was scouted by Sheffield Wednesday so he moved to South Yorkshire. He met my mother, started a family and had a good career with the Owls.

“As his playing career started to come to end, he decided to set up a bakery with my grandmother. As Dora was so well known in the area they called it Dora Webster’s.

“I worked there when I left school when I was 17 and at some point my brother and two sisters have also been involved. I owned it for a while and in more recent times it was owned by my sister and brother in law. It was a great family success and I think that is what made it so popular - sometimes we would have queues of people outside.

“The decision to sell up has been a difficult one and it is a very sad time for us all because it has been our lives for so long – two of the staff who worked there had been with us for approximately 40 years but things and people have to move on.”

Occupying a high profile position on Middlewood Road, Hillsborough, the double fronted commercial premises occupies three floors with a sales counter area, larger preparation rooms and storage rooms. Ground floor extends to approximately 1700 sq ft and the first and second floors to 670 sq ft combined.

Lucy Crapper, from Auction House Blundells, said: “This is a rare opportunity for someone to acquire exceptional premises in a popular Sheffield suburb. Dora’s is extremely well known in the area and we anticipate that there will be intense interest in the sale. We’ve had lots of interest from bakers and non-bakers alike!”

Price guide is £175,000-£200,000. More details can be obtained by contacting Auction House Blundells on 0114 223 0777.