FAQs

This information also forms my terms and conditions. Please ask if anything isn't clear.

How much notice is needed?

It's never too early to pencil in a date! Everything is made to order so a minimum of 7 days' notice is required, but it also depends what's already booked in. Just drop me a message or give me a ring to check availability and we can take it from there. The diary is open approximately 2 years ahead although published prices are generally valid 1 year ahead (I will always confirm on request).

What flavours do you do?

Ready Range - Victoria (vanilla and jam), chocolate or lemon

Baked Bespoke and Wedding - pretty much anything!

Download my newest menu here

Requests are welcome!

Any fully iced cake (as opposed to buttercream covered) is first coated in white chocolate ganache, which seals the sponge and provides a perfect foundation for the sugarpaste (fondant).

How is my cake made? 

I bake regularly in my home kitchen, so your cake will be fresh for a good few days after you collect it. I always use free range eggs in my cakes and real butter in my buttercream! I am registered with Rushcliffe Council and hold a 5* elite food hygiene rating.

I buy in red velvet sponges and fruit cakes from Sweet Success, Nottingham, as I choose not to make these. They supply cake decorators nationwide and have an excellent reputation so this achieves the best possible look and taste for your order if you these are your favourite flavours.

How do I store my cake?

Keep it in its box at room temperature, away from sunny windows or radiators. It is happy in a cool garage but not in the fridge. Once cut, cover the exposed sponge tightly with foil or clingfilm and pop it back in its box.

What about allergies?

I am unable to cater for severe allergies because a home kitchen cannot provide a sterile environment, but I have lots of experience with 'free from gluten' and 'free from dairy' recipes. Please note that I do not have separate equipment for these orders but 'free from' bakes are handled separately to others and with newly-cleaned equipment and utensils, plus additional safety measures. I am more than happy to discuss my ingredients and my processes so you are in a position to decide if I am the right cake maker for you. Please mention any special requirements when you first get in touch, as it will affect the quote and availability because of the additional time this type of order deserves.

Ingredients and allergens

In line with the law, you will receive an allergen chart with your order. Products made to order are not required be labelled with a full ingredients list, but I can provide one if needed. I keep my allergen training up to date so feel free to ask me anything!

How do I pay?

Once we have more or less agreed on a design, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your cake's slot in the diary (£100 for any wedding cake). The design can still be tweaked up to two weeks before collection day (weddings 1 month). Changes may incur extra costs if they require additional time or materials but I will always tell you this if applicable.

The balance is payable by bank transfer as follows:

Ready Range / Bespoke: 7 days prior to collection

Weddings: 1 month prior to the day

I will always send a payment reminder as I know how busy everyone is! However, after that, I reserve the right to cancel orders not paid for on time. If you have any technical issues with payment, please ring me. 

Cancellations

Should you need to cancel your order for whatever reason, deposits and balances are non-refundable; I am likely to have turned down other orders in its place, and as a small business, I can't absorb empty slots in the diary. If your event date changes, I will do my best to accommodate this, but it cannot be guaranteed. If I can accommodate your new date, your deposit will be transferred. If I can't, your deposit will be retained.

In the unlikely event of me needing to cancel your order (eg due to illness) you will receive a full refund of what has been paid. I will also contact my network of local cake businesses to try to find another maker for your cake. I do not offer compensation for a cake not supplied if all avenues have been exhausted; however, please be assured that I would not cancel unless absolutely unavoidable, eg in the event of a sickness bug when I am legally required not to work.

In the event of extreme weather events, I reserve the right to discuss practicalities and any alternatives with you from a personal safety and food safety point of view. 

Returns policy

As we have time to discuss and create the cake that's right for you, I don't expect there to be any reason for disappointment. I have been using the same trusted recipes and techniques for years so I can be sure each bake comes out just the same. 

Should you feel there is a problem after you have collected your cake, please contact me straight away. In order to fully investigate your concern, I require at least 90% of the cake to be returned. Your cake is at its best for the first few days after collection, so please bear this in mind when ordering for your special occasion.  

Celebration cake collections

Collections are by appointment from my home in NG2 and when you order your cake we will arrange a 15 minute time slot to suit you. Please treat your collection time as an appointment and please don't assume I will wait in if you run late, as this is not always possible.

Tranporting your celebration cake 

Your cake must be kept cool and flat. A footwell or the boot of your car are ideal, because car seats are sloped. Once you have collected your cake, you become responsible for it, so if you have any questions about transporting it, just ask. Long journeys are of course more risky; if you know you will need to travel a considerable distance with your cake, let me know before we design it, because we factor this in to the design of it. As with wedding cakes, I do offer a delivery and setup service to remove the worry for you - just ask for a quote (this will depend on the date, time and location). One and some two tier cakes can be transported ready-assembled. Three tiers and above always need to be tranported in separate boxes and stacked in situ. 

SPECIFIC TO WEDDING CAKES:

Design

After an initial 'chat' (phone, message, email or whatever suits you) you can secure your date when you are ready with a non refundable £100 deposit. We'll then finalise your design whenever the time is right for you, and I will sketch what we have agreed, so we have an idea of how it will look!

Changes to the design or flavours can be made up to one month prior to the day, at which point everything is finalised and your balance is due.  

Details relating to your wedding cake will be agreed in writing by email. Please read emails carefully and let me know immediately if anything is not correct. Any questions, any time, just ask.

Delivery

Wedding cakes (and larger celebration cakes by arrangement) are delivered and set up as agreed with you and your venue. I will ask you to confirm where and when I should arrive and I will set up your cake wherever the venue instructs me to do so, leaving cutting instructions, flavour cards and allergen information with them. Once I leave the cake in situ, I will take photos of it and my responsibility for it ends. Please let me know if you do not wish your cake photos to appear on my social media pages or e-brochure (names are not used).

If access to the venue/room is not available as agreed, I will take every reasonable step to find a solution. However, after one hour without access I reserve the right to transport the cake back to my home, where it will remain available for collection for 24 hours.