The local business has been passed through four generations and has pride about serving famous individuals in the past
Cambridgeshire is well known for its historical sites, picturesque villages, and unique shops. But one village located near Huntingdon is home to a business considered one of the oldest family-run businesses in the area.
Kimbolton is a village home to a variety of charming shops and some highly recommended places to eat. One local shop, however, has been run by the same family for more than 150 years, spanning multiple generations.
Abingtons Menswear is a tailor and outfitter located in the heart of Kimbolton and originally opened in 1858 in East Street. This family-run business proudly boasts of serving famous individuals over the course of its life, including the late Prince William of Gloucester, Guy Gibson, Ernie Wise, H.E. Bates, Clark Gable, and John Major.
Four generations of the Abington family have reportedly provided professional men’s tailoring for the shop, which was originally founded by Edwin Ebenezer Abington before relocating from London to Kimbolton.
In present times, the business is run by Richard Abington and his wife, Karen, and is believed to be the oldest family business running in Huntingdonshire. The shop’s stock has evolved over the years to cater to both formal and casual wear, and an in-house tailor on hand to tailor garments perfectly to each individual.
This business is not the only place in the village with an interesting backstory. The village is also home to a famous landmark, Kimbolton Castle. The castle was once the final residence of Queen Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. It dates back to a wooden motte-and-bailey castle in Norman times, and is now an early 18th-century masterpiece.
Kimbolton boasts some lovely shops, including La Cote d’Or, an antique shop in the centre of the village, and The Kimbolton Flower Shop, dubbed by a Google review as the “very best florist in the world”.
If this didn’t tempt you enough to pay a visit, Kimbolton is also home to a refurbished pub called The New Sun Inn, offering an à la carte menu, an extensive wine list, and a rustic charm that entices you in. The pub boasts about thoughtful cooking with “flavours that feel both familiar and exciting”.
The establishment is not short on high recommendations either. The New Sun Inn holds an overall 4.3 rating out of five on Tripadvisor and has seen some truly raving reviews. One happy diner wrote: “Great traditional pub with brilliant staff, the food couldn’t have been better.” They added: “They have one hell of a chef there” and “I would recommend this place to anyone.”
Another reviewer wrote: “Another delicious dinner at The New Sun Inn in Kimbolton. Proper chips, fantastic fish in crunchy batter and gorgeous homemade puddings.”