Cake maker's sweet treats helping boost local spirits

A cake maker has been working to lift community spirits by selling sweat treats each week.

Cate Dangerfield is the owner of Cates Cake and Tea Room at Hollies farm shop in Shareshill, a tea room which was forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 46-year-old said she decided to run the weekly sale from Hollies farm shop to raise community spirits during lockdown by providing something everyone could enjoy.

She said: "Cake's always good and it helps people feel better, especially during a time like this.

"I'm into my fourth year running my shop and I've got such lovely customers that are regulars and who I am missing, so it's really lovely to put this on every week."

Among some of the cakes on offer in the sale include Victoria sponge cake, brownies, blondies, bread pudding, Viennese whirls and scones.

Since the tea room closed Cate has also been running a delivery service from her home in Cheslyn Hay, delivering to customers around the area.

She said: "I've done a lot of specials over the last few weeks, taking orders and delivering cakes free of charge to people's houses.

"I've also done a number of surprise deliveries to people who order a cake and send it to someone else, so they get a cake they had no idea was coming, which is really lovely."

Cate said the intention was to run the shop every Wednesday from the farm shop and she would also produce a number of random treats alongside favourites like Victoria sponge cake.

She said: "The best selling cake is probably the Victoria sponge, but brownies are also very popular as well.

"I have a lot of my regulars come back and say it's the nicest cake they've ever tasted, so it's nice to do this for them.

"It's nice to know the community cares and supports the shop and I really look forward to welcoming them all back when we can reopen."

To find out more about the cake sale and to make an order, go to facebook.com/catescakesandtearoom/ or call 07495 480474.