By Jacob Fehr
LAST summer, Amanda Hodgson opened Dover’s Best of Britain at 347 Main Street in Port Dover. The shop offers fresh British baked goods made in-store with her family recipes, as well as many items imported from the United Kingdom.
Ms. Hodgson said her store has had good business since opening day which “was crazy” and saw her store “absolutely packed” with customers.
Ms. Hodgson is a British citizen whose parents came to Canada before she was born.
“I only had an accent when I was little, then I went to school and it went away,” she said.
Asked what inspired her to open her business, she said, “My heritage. I’m British. When I was younger we had an English pub in Florida. My whole family’s British. We come from County Durham, U.K. And I was told I have to sell my pies.”
For many years, she heard from friends and family that she should start a store for her homemade British goods. Having grown up around her parents’ English pub, she comes by her craft honestly. But she didn’t start her career baking British goods in Port Dover.
She lived in Kitchener before moving to Port Dover nine years ago. Before that, her parents retired and relocated to the community.
“I ended up coming two years later, decided to stay, got a job locally, worked [there] for six and a half years, then I decided I want to start my own business,” she said.
“I’ve never looked back and have no regrets since coming here. Dover’s been nothing but welcoming.”
She said that 10 years ago, she was considering opening a store in the Virgin Islands, but shortly after deciding against it, a storm swept away the property she planned to use.
“I’m happier to be doing it here. I like Dover. I didn’t know we have so many English people here,” she said.
After following her parents to Port Dover, it’s fitting that the goods in her store are “all family recipes.” Ms. Hodgson said, “Anything in that bake section is all family recipes I grew up with or created myself.”
Her parents are happy to help her at the shop.
“They’re here everyday. Mom bakes with me in the kitchen. My dad helps us out and greets the customers,” she said. “I think my dad likes it. Gets him out of the house.”
She and her parents enjoy interacting with customers.
“It’s nice when they come in with excitement. You feed off of the customer’s satisfaction,” she said. “Everybody [says], ‘We’re so glad you’re here.’”
The store’s interior is decorated with art she painted or created, many depicting places and people from the U.K., including a prominent portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Overall, Ms. Hodgson said business has been great at her store. Customers are content, and so is she.
“It’s so happy. It’s so good. It’s been so well received and people are so happy about it. I always try to get what people ask me, if they have advance orders,” she said.
While she might not be able to meet every request, she’ll do her best. “As long as there’s enough people looking for something, I don’t mind adding it in,” she said.
She mentioned the store is also open to catering requests.
“Special orders for parties, family gatherings, these types of things, if people talk to us we’re happy to fill them.”
For more information about Dover’s Best of Britain, call 226-290-1868, visit its website, or doversbestofbritain@gmail.com.
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Originally published February 5, 2025
