Down Your Street: Velvet takes a stroll down bustling Petty Cury

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The place to go to buy bread, cakes and pastries in the 14th century, Perry Cury is now one of the most vibrant shopping streets in the city, as Louise Cummings discovers

Its name is a tad unusual, but derives from the word for a ‘row of cook’s stalls’ (a cury) and the French for small, petit. Originally lined with bakeries, by the 15th century, Petty Cury housed most of the city’s inns, though these had vanished by the early 20th century when the area was redeveloped. In the 1970s its south side was demolished to make way for Lion Yard shopping centre and today it’s one of the busiest shopping streets in Cambridge.

Nana Mexico

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Nanna Mexico is the home of fresh, authentic Mexican food made from scratch, including its famous ‘big-ass burrito’. It was inspired by owner Luis Navarro’s beloved Nanna Margarita, a mum of seven who would feed the entire neighbourhood tasty enchiladas from her kitchen table in Mexico City. Her legacy lives on in every mouthful!

Visit nannamexico.com

MINISO

A Chinese retailer which describes it stores as ‘playgrounds of endless fun and excitement’, MINISO is the place to unleash your inner child!

Its quirky products include collectibles, plushies, makeup and beauty buys, high-quality toys and mouth-watering snacks, plus collaborations with iconic brands such as Disney, Pokémon and Care Bears. Pop by to marvel at the joyful window displays!

Visit minisoshop.co.uk

Shake Shack

The iconic New York burger restaurant opened on Petty Cury in June, serving a tempting menu spanning the signature ShackBurger®, crinkle cut fries, flat-top dogs, ShackMeister® Ale and hand-spun shakes. The Cambridge restaurant boasts a bold bespoke mural by UK-based Spanish illustrator Beatriz Lostalé, celebrating the city’s iconic green spaces and dynamic community life.

Visit shakeshack.co.uk

Real Eating Company

Proudly independent and family-owned, Real Eating Company sells freshly-roasted coffee from small-batch producers, delicious cakes and ‘all day, unfussy food’, sourced locally. It was founded by Helena Hudson in 2004, who spotted the potential for a high-quality British casual dining café concept in the South East. It has a sister-restaurant on Sidney Street.

Visit real-eating.co.uk

Pureseoul

Delighting K-Beauty lovers, Pureseoul opened its Cambridge store in March 2025. The cult retailer boasts the largest range of Korean hair and body products in the UK from award-winning brands such as Celimax, Torriden, ONE THING and Luvum, from lip tints to nail strips and serums to shampoos.

Visit pureseoul.co.uk

Clarks

Since 1825, Clarks has evolved from a humble workshop in Street, Somerset, into a globally-renowned footwear brand empowering millions to move comfortably.

Stride on in to find shoes, sandals, trainers and boots for women, men and children featuring cutting-edge comfort technologies.

Visit clarks.com

Moss Bros

The go-to for stylish suits in Cambridge, Moss Bros stocks wedding suits for grooms and guests and a contemporary ready-to-wear range. For a bespoke look, it offers a custom-made suit service with a choice from hundreds of the world’s finest fabrics and a multitude of styles. There’s also casualwear and accessories.

Visit moss.co.uk

Superdry

An exciting contemporary brand, Superdry focuses on high-quality products that fuse vintage Americana and Japanese-inspired graphics with a British style. From hoodies to knits, polo shirts to backpacks, the range is characterised by quality fabrics, authentic vintage washes, unique detailing, hand-drawn graphics and tailored fits.

Visit superdry.com

Find out more about Cambridge’s independent shopping scene at love-cambridge.com