When this long-awaited event rolls into town at the end of March, the South West Life magazine titles will be at the fore supporting what will be the region’s biggest ever baking show. SUSAN CLARK highlights the key events that bakers won’t want to miss
The South West Life magazine titles – including Devon, Cornwall and Somerset Life – are delighted to announce we are now the official media partners working with the organisers of The Big Cake Show to help make this event one of the biggest and best of its kind.
The three day show – which will run 28, 29 & 30 March at Exeter’s West Point - is bringing the UK’s top baking royalty to the region with both Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood joining us for live demonstrations from the 300-seater stage. But as the biggest cake and baking show to ever come to the South West, it is going to be a showcase for far more than our TV baking celebrities.
There will be over 100 exhibitors bringing the very latest in baking trends to our doorstep and lots of pre-bookable workshops all designed to help you hone your own home baking skills with the help of baking professionals.
And this really is a show for the whole family to enjoy. The Exeter-based Fun Kitchen team, for example, will be running the on-site Kids’ Kitchen where the children can practice their favourite bakes and the West Country Larder section will play host to not only the region’s brilliant food producers but also our own home-grown talented chefs.
The Big Cake Show is the brainchild of two busy Exeter mums, Mel Edwards and Kim Vernon, who jointly run an Events Management Company. And these ladies really have done their homework. They know we don’t want to be jostled down aisles too crowded to stop and enjoy what’s on offer and they know that when it comes to putting on a successful show, the devil is always in the detail and that if you are talking good food, the on-site catering needs to live up to that same expectation.
Lots of our favourite Great British Bake Off contestants will be joining the professionals, including Exeter’s Glenn Cosby who is now working on his own big baking book (there will be a special book signing area so bring your favourite TV cook cookbooks along).
There will also be a Big Cake Show bake off competition which is open to all and which will encourage everyone to take their inspiration for their finished Showstopper cake from the incredible and varied landscapes of the South West and the food it produces; so whether it’s giant pasties or giant surf boards, you can create what you like to enter this fun bake off. The winner from the adult category will win a KitchenAid; with second and third winning £100 and £50 respectively; and in the Junior category the winner will receive £50 with second place receiving £25 and third a baking hamper
As the show’s official media partner, the editorial staff of the South West Life magazine titles, including the editors and food writers, will be attending every day of this brilliant event to meet with our readers and share our joint love of baking and of good food.
Tickets cost from £12 for a one-day Adult entry (£6 for kids aged 5-12 and £32 for a family ticket) from thebigcakeshow.com and there are discounts for buying in advance online; or call 01392 829945.
Numbers have been restricted to 20,000 over the three days so don’t run the risk of missing out by leaving it too late.
Book your advance tickets now, get the dates in the diary and we will look forward to seeing you there!
Cake photographs by Kyle Dreier from Frostings by Courtney Dial Whitmore, reprinted with thanks to Gibbs Smith (gibbs-smith.com)
For an exclusive interview with Mary Berry see the March issue of Devon, Cornwall or Somerset Life on sale from 13 February
Sign up for a Devon, Cornwall or Somerset Life subscription here for the chance to win a pair of free tickets for The Big Cake Show.
