Written by Victoria Purcell

5 reasons to visit The Cake & Bake Show 2022

Whether you’re a budding baker or a seasoned cake-maker looking for tips, there’s plenty to inspire at The Cake and Bake Show 2022.

Taking place from 21-23 October 2022 at ExCeL London, it’s Britain’s biggest baking event. The Good Homes team picks out five highlights of this year’s show…

rosie cake diva life-size bridgerton cake

Rosie Cake Diva with her life-size Bridgerton Cake from The Cake & Bake Show 2021. Photo: Media10

1. Celebrity bakers

As always at The Cake & Bake Show, an unrivalled line-up of celebrity bakers will be on hand to share their hints, tips and experiences. Here’s a selection of star bakers due to appear this year:

Rosemary Shrager worked as a professional chef and has released numerous cookbooks. She is also known for her appearances on shows such as Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks, This Morning and Ladette to Lady
Eric Lanlard, Master Pâtissier and twice winner of the prestigious Continental Pâtissier of the Year at the British Baking Awards, has earned himself an international reputation for his superlative baking skills
Cherish Finden, a multi-award-winning pastry chef, has earned many awards over the years including Top London Afternoon Tea and Pastry Chef of the Year, but she is probably best known as the formidable judge on Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals
Jemma Melvin, an amateur from Southport in Merseyside, won the Platinum Jubilee Pudding Competition 2022, wowing Mary Berry with her lemon Swiss roll and amaretti trifle
Paul A Young is an award-winning chocolatier known for his cutting-edge flavour alchemy. He has won several gold medals at the Academy of Chocolate Awards and industry awards, including Outstanding British Chocolatier
Molly Robbins is best known for her work on hit Channel 4 series Extreme Cake Makers, where she can be seen making cakes in the shape of anything from a life-size cow to a meat and potato pie
Chigs Parmar only learned to bake during lockdown, but that didn’t stop him reaching the final of The Great British Bake Off 2021, narrowly missing out to winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno

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A post shared by Molly Robbins (@mollymakescakes)

2. Live baking demos

To learn from the best bakers and soufflé makers, head for TheCake & Bake Show’s Baking Super Theatre, where experts will take to the stage throughout the four-day event.

The baking demos are free, with plenty of viewing areas and seating on a first come first serve basis. Don’t miss demos by Rosemary Shrager, multi-award winning pastry chef Cherish Finden, Eric Lanlard aka Cake Boy, Great British Bake Off 2021 winner, Chigs, or the Platinum Jubilee pudding winner Jemma Melvin.

Equally, you can visit the Decorating and Sugarcraft Stage to boost your cake decorating skills with the likes of Molly Robbins from Channel 4’s Extreme Cake Makers or learn how to turn your passion into profit with a Baking for Business session with Bella The Sugarcraft Contessa.

Rosemary Shrager at the Cake and Bake Show

Rosemary Shrager on stage in the Baking Super Theatre. Photo: Media10

3. The Showstopper Cake

Every year, Rosie Dummer (AKA Rosie Cake Diva) from the award-winning Channel 4 series Extreme Cake Makers creates a life-sized edible creation for The Cake & Bake Show. In previous years, this Showstopper Cake has been a British Bulldog, an inelegantly suspended Boris Johnson, and the lead characters from Bridgerton.

Rosie was the first female attack helicopter pilot in the British Forces, before retiring to become a baker and presenter. You can also see her on Channel 5’s Wonderful World of Cake, where made a life-sized version of Freddie Mercury and a poignant Santa and Nurse Cake for the NHS. She also once made a 7ft soldier eaten by Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace.

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A post shared by Rosie Cake-Diva – Rosie Dummer (@rosiecakediva)

4. The Market Stands

The Market Stands at The Cake & Bake Show are a sweet-toothed foodie’s heaven! Sample an array of freshly baked produce from the country’s leading artisan bakers and cake makers, from cakes to brownies and breads to pies.

It’s also a great chance to get a flavour of all the latest creations and baking trends from cake experts and master bakers alike.

Plus, there are plenty of free-from exhibitors for those with allergies and intolerances, from gluten and dairy and nut-free bakes.

Olive and cheese rolls at the Cake and Bake show

There are plenty of baking supplies and treats to purchase at the show. Photo: Media10

5. The Official Cake Competition

Because The Cake & Bake Show 2022 falls in late October, the theme of this year’s Official Show Cake Competition is Halloween. Whether you’re a professional or a self-taught baker, it’s time to show off your skills to thousands of visitors.

Rosemary Shrager and Mollie Robbins will be judging this year’s competition, while Cherish Finden offers her expert opinion on the entries. There are three categories to enter: the main cake competition; a cupcake category and a kids competition, with first, second and third prizes to be won in each category. Plus, bakers could win £1,000 for the Best in Show cake.

For further inspiration, don’t forget to visit The Cake & Bake Display Table, where a selection of small business owners will showcase their professional bakes.