Walkers Bakery, Grassington: ‘We’ve had cast of All Creatures Great and Small buy our pastries including Nicholas Ralph and Callum Woodhouse’

A bakery in Grassington often used to film the series of All Creatures Great and Small can also count members of the cast among its customers.

This year will mark 20 years since Walkers Bakery opened its doors in Grassington.

The business, which sells sandwiches, pies, pastries, breads and confectionery, was originally opened by Robert Walker, 55, in 1993 in Willesden before it moved to Skipton in 1996.

Since 2020 when he was approached by the All Creatures Great and Small crew, the shop has been transformed into an ironmongers for every season.

And in between filming, some of the cast members have tried out some of their products.

“We don't actually film inside the shop, so we don't dress any of the shop up inside,” Mr Walker said.

“It's my staff who liaise with the All Creatures Great and Small cast and crew during the filming.

“They've had nothing but praise for the film crew because they're very considerate of the businesses as they realise that there will be impacts on the business at times of the day.

“The way that they do all the painting and decorating, the electricians, plumbers, everybody who dresses your shop up, they're very professional. For us as a business, they've been superb.

“We've got pictures on the wall in the shop of the main characters coming in and [buying] our products with our branded bags.

“Audrey, who works in the shop, says Tristan [played by Callum Woodhouse] had the Yorkshire Pasty and James Herriot [played by Nicholas Ralph], he really likes that particular product.”

Walkers Bakery has become popular with tourists who specifically visit Grassington as a result of the Channel 5 series.

“Tourists make a big impact, especially from [around] September,” Mr Walker said.

“It's ongoing with [All Creatures Great and Small] and obviously Grassington, being in the Yorkshire Dales, it's been a destination for holiday makers, walkers, hikers and cyclists purely because of the scenery.

“The hills, walks, rivers and filming of All Creatures Great and Small over the last few years has put it on the map; it's certainly made it more popular to visit especially with Americans and Canadians.

“We are noticing quite a few more Chinese [tourists] coming here because of the TV programme.”

Mr Walker, from Carlton, shared his thoughts on how the 2020 adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small compares to the original version.

“I remember the old All Creatures Great and Small back in the 70s and 80s when it was on,” he said.

“There are quite a lot of people that have quite strong opinions about the two different adaptations and obviously many of them that have grown up with the original were staunchly in support of the original.

“I [don’t feel] that way really.

“It's like anything I suppose; when you remember something from 40 or 50 years ago, you have a little more nostalgia.

“I was a youngster growing up in the 70s and 80s and I just remember watching that at home with my mum and dad and whereas now I'm watching the programme at home with my family.

“So it's slightly different but equally enjoyable. That shows how it's moving along with generations and that's quite nice.”

There are a few products that are the most popular with customers, Mr Walker said.

“Our most popular savouries are Yorkshire pasty and pork pies, sausage rolls,” he said.

“Confectionery-wise I'd say vanilla slices, egg custards, chocolate brownies, Eccles cakes.

“We do jelly bear whales, they're very popular ones and we do a range of cream cakes, strawberry tarts, chocolate eclairs and we try to stick to the things that sell.

“We do swap it around seasonally so there are different things on at Christmas and Easter and through the summer.”