A LONG-RUNNING Covered Market cake shop has celebrated a five star hygiene rating and hopes its historic home is back on the up.

The Cake Shop, which has been baking cakes for more than 25 years, has celebrated another five star rating and director Sally Davis said she was feeling optimistic about the future of the 18th century market.

The indoor bazaar, opened in 1774, has recently lost a number of long-serving traders including McCarthy’s Fruit and Veg, Haymans fishmongers and John Lindsey butchers.

In recent months existing traders and city-wide retail groups have criticised Oxford City Council for ‘unfair’ rents and not doing enough to encourage start-ups to move in.

But Ms Davis, whose bespoke cakes are ordered from around the country, was hopeful for the future.

She said: “Hopefully it’s getting better – it’s still low on customer count but we hope they will return now that the vacant units are beginning to be filled.

“All we can do is keep doing what we do, which is cakes, and we do them very well.

“Times change and people change and what people want changes and it can only be a good thing in the end."

She added: “We are very pleased with the hygiene score - it’s down to hard work and being on the ball.

“We have always been very happy with the council and its environmental health officers."

The market was hit by another setback earlier this month when newsagent Tim Gresswell announced he was preparing to leave after three decades.

He said he would not be renewing the lease for his Market News stall, close to the Market Street entrance, and expected to shut in August.

Last year the council pledged to invest £1.6m over four years in the Grade II listed building, but traders said it was not enough and called for a radical re-think.

Significant spending on electrics, drainage and roof and toilet improvements are also planned.

The council added it had a leasing strategy in place to create a ‘healthy mix of tenant categories’ to meet consumer demands.

The recent arrival of authentic Greek food stall Souvlaki Brothers has helped stop the rot and the city council said it was in discussions with a number of independent fresh produce retailers.

The Cake Shop founder said: “The Souvlaki Brothers has just opened opposite us and they have been bringing new people into the market, which is great.

“Any new face or fresh face can only be good for the market.

“We have to be positive: times change, there’s no point moaning.”