Bride Kellie is near to tiers

Happy . . . bride Kellie with husband Simon Poole and the new cake

...but a replacement is the icing on the cake


A worried bride thought plans for a stylish centrepiece at her wedding were crumbling after an upmarket bespoke cake maker ceased trading.

Pretty history student, Kellie Service (27), paid £400 for a four-tier cake to share with 107 guests for her wedding breakfast at the White Hart at Lydgate.

But a few days before her nuptials, Cake Heaven, — just 200 yards from the inn, closed.
Kellie, who married plumber Simon Poole at St Mary’s Church Greenfield, said: “I was in bits. I felt as if I’d been turned inside out.

“My mother paid a deposit on the cake 10 months ago and the balance just four weeks ago. But thanks to the team at the inn, another confectioner made an exact replica of my cake for my wedding day.”

A note pinned to the door at the empty Cake Heaven premises on Oldham Road gave contact telephone numbers of other bakers.

The shop is the last remaining in the village and guests booking celebrations at the White Hart use it to order special cakes.

Clare Pritchard, the inn’s wedding and function co-ordinator, spent hours advising guests affected by the shop’s closure and helped them make alternative arrangements.

“I contacted another baker on Kellie’s behalf to ensure the cake was made in time for her wedding,” she said.

“Some guests were mortified and upset when I told them the cake shop had closed. They were really grateful we had come to their rescue.”

A spokesperson for Cake Heaven, said: “I would like to personally apologise to every customer for my decision to close the business. This decision was not taken lightly.

“I have spent the last two days talking to my clients and explaining the situation to them. I took the decision to cease trading for personal reasons which are too upsetting to talk about.

“I have made every effort to ensure imminent orders were fulfilled by other cake makers. I have explained to clients what has happened and assured them they will get their deposits back.”

Lisa Hilton, owner of Diva Cakes in Mossley, who created the new cake for Kellie’s wedding, said: “I offered to make the cake for nothing because her wedding was less than a week off.

“But the couple have paid me and told me the insurance company will cover the cost. I was delighted to help out.

Another baker, Steve Booth, owner of Sugar Flair of George Street, Oldham, said: “Cake Heaven has asked us to take over some orders. Our concern is for people who may have booked cakes for celebrations later in the year and not realise what has happened.”