How long do you give the "cake Shed" phase before we are left with thousands of unused pink sheds all over the UK?
Posted by Royal-Reporter6664@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 316 comments
There are currently 4 on my estate alone. What started as a viral trend is becoming a part of many peoples neighborhoods.
bossanovasupernova@reddit
Thrilled to hear about this trend that has entirely passed me by
According-Let3541@reddit
This means you’ve missed all the drama associated with these cake sheds! In my local area, two rival cake sheds are regularly sniping off at each other via social media (one claims to be the OG cake shed, the other allegedly copied her but does better business so has been accused of stealing customers etc). It’s reached the point where one of them reported the other to the council for operating without a license and that’s led to further drama with a lot of quoting of council bylaws by interested online parties.
All this over cakes baked in someone’s kitchen without a food hygiene certificate.
Pristine_Speech4719@reddit
Ohmygod, they went to Torte Court?
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
If anyone is selling food without being registered with their local council then they are operating illegally and deserve to be reported.
According-Let3541@reddit
The cake sheds have some sort of loophole that means they can get away without some of the usual certification. Its why I won’t buy from them
sarahc13289@reddit
No, there’s no loophole. They need to be registered with the council. They may be low priority for food hygiene inspections if they use low risk ingredients, but they still need to be registered and comply with all regulations.
According-Let3541@reddit
Then I will report as the comments on some of the posts suggest they are not certified! Thanks for correcting me!
sarahc13289@reddit
They may not be. I know when I was looking into starting a home baking business there were a lot of people who were ignorant of the rules. If they are registered, the business will appear on your local council website. If they’re not there, report away.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
Plus you know their address.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
I mean you can have a one-off bake sale to raise money for a local good cause, but you can't claim that you don't need to be registered because your 'shop' is a shed at the front of your garden.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
No. There is no loophole. Report them to your local Environmental Health department.
According-Let3541@reddit
Will do - thanks for letting me know! This is what happens when you take Facebook claims at face value!
DanWheels79@reddit
Bridgend?
According-Let3541@reddit
Llanelli!
moonbrows@reddit
Where is the other cake shed in Bridgend?? Is that one still open?
DanWheels79@reddit
Not sure, I was made aware by the nation.cymru article.
wedontneednoeduc@reddit
You can bake at home and sell goods.
Many years ago I had a connection to a community group who had people baking cakes for their cafe and the council would inspect people's kitchens and give some advice.
EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit
Me too. What is a cake shed? Is it just one that looks like a cake?
AmphibianNo8598@reddit
Afaik it’s a little shed that sells cake on the honour system but there are certainly none near me :(
InspiringGecko@reddit
I’ve only ever seen one and sadly not in my area. It was a little shed next to a school with an honesty box to pay for the cupcakes that were inside.
MyDadsGlassesCase@reddit
An honesty box in this day and age? That's a level of confidence in my fellow man that I would not share
underwater-sunlight@reddit
We have a few locals that sell stuff, cake sheds, veg sheds, firewood and kindling... most of them have a WiFi camera in the shed or nearby
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
Wait, so it's a shed with actual cake? This is amazing how have I not seen this before
InspiringGecko@reddit
They're not as common as OP makes them out to be. I wish there were more! The cupcakes were delicious.
Medical_Frame3697@reddit
There are quite a few round where I live. I worry about rodents/food hygiene so no thanks
ProfessorYaffle1@reddit
The one near me has each item individually wrapped and I think is 'open' set times with nothing left out at other times. Allergens would be an issue but I think any issue with rodents would be pretty obvious
pajamakitten@reddit
Allergens as well. Nice idea, but a health and safety nightmare.
Alyssa9876@reddit
The ones I have seen do have full labels on the food, but tbh I don’t have food allergies and nor do my kids so not really looked into it. Most people don’t have allergies but for those that do perhaps best to avoid?
The one I saw had a copy of their food safety certs and a thing from the council on the inside of the door so I think many of them are trying to be somewhat professional
Medical_Frame3697@reddit
agreed. They have been pretty well received though
thetrueGOAT@reddit
That sounds nice, not something id post on reddit being neggy about
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
This post makes me miss the Jam Lady of my childhood. She'd leave a fresh batch on her doorstep, you'd pick a jar and put £2 through the letterbox. Sometimes she'd have vegetables from her veggie patch, too! We were all sad when she moved, I hope she's doing well wherever she is
decisiontoohard@reddit
There's a jam and meringues house or two in Lacock, if you ever want to see it I recommend going on the scarecrow walk and bringing some money 🥹
InspiringGecko@reddit
It was such a delightful surprise! And the cupcake was delicious. They were raising money for the school. I went back for a second cupcake the next day, but sadly (happily) they were all sold out.
I'm not sure why OP is so salty about this. I would love more cake in my neighbourhood!
Puppygirl621@reddit
"The world will be filled with a excess of honesty boxes" god forbid, its not like you can just put something else in them, or repaint them, honesty boxes are a lovely thing more people should do em.
EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit
That sounds lovely. Like one of those little community libraries you find on some streets. I live in south east London though where shoplifting is pretty much a daily event at my local little Tesco, so sadly I can't see one of these ever popping up here. Honesty boxes only work where there isn't an abundance of dishonesty I guess.
InspiringGecko@reddit
Exactly! They seem to be more common in rural locations. The one I mentioned was on a quiet lane in the Lake District. I love coming across honesty boxes for jams or eggs, too.
Cow_Launcher@reddit
The car club I belong to goes camping every year at a site near Whitchurch. They have chickens and every morning the owners put eggs in the honesty box, asking 20p for them.
Best damned fried egg I have ever had in my life.
berejser@reddit
Personally I love nothing more than buying unrefrigerated foods at the side of the road.
Nuthetes@reddit
This screams something that could only exist in a posher area. In a working class town it wouldn't last five minutes.
TryTrynTryAgain@reddit
An honesty box where a local baker sells cakes.
Sounds like a really nice and great idea, but all it ends up being is constant moaning on Facebook that people haven’t paid. Was pretty funny watching the usuals blame the teens that are up to no good, then the baker started posting the ring doorbell footage and it was elderly men.
I assume it’s largely a rural thing where there is a more insular community.
Special_Artichoke@reddit
I live in Leeds, and I saw one, in a nicer area admittedly. Didn't know it was a "cake shed" and obviously had no coins but thought it was cool.
-Pamalamadingdong@reddit
Some of them have QR codes to pay if you don’t have any cash :)
Clemtastic1@reddit
The one near me has a card machine in it, she posted the other day that you could now tap for cake
TryTrynTryAgain@reddit
I’m rural Leeds, there’s a few dotted about, we’ve also got plant library and book library sheds but they don’t seem to have as much drama for some reason 🤔
Special_Artichoke@reddit
Oh I'm definitely urban Leeds! No idea if there's drama
decidedlyindecisive@reddit
Sounds like the easiest solution is to come off Facebook then. You get to enjoy a cake honesty box and no Facebook moaning
TryTrynTryAgain@reddit
I mean more for the shed owners themself, seems like they spending as much time moaning as they do making the cakes. Surely it gets to a point it’s not worth it, it is a massive shame people cant be trusted.
Medical_Frame3697@reddit
No, there’s a crop of them appeared in my city. All the same.
Second_Guess_25@reddit
Gonna get flamed, but I'm surprised more people haven't heard of them. It depends on where you stay, but I live in a small rural town, and dotted around the county are people's little cake sheds. Not just cakes, but other sweets treats like brownies, sweets and other such delights.
People make their own wares, and the customer takes what they like and leave money, PayPal or BACs to the seller. It works as an honesty box.
For the most part, they work well but occasionally someone has to spoil it for the rest of us and steal everything in sight.
It could be why some people have never heard of cake sheds - because if there's a high potential for theft etc in your area, would-be sellers aren't likely to sell their goods when their cake sheds work on the basis of honesty and are largely unsupervised (except for maybe a camera).
EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit
Dishonesty is rife in my part of SE London! Lots of good people who would love something like this but sadly the bad ones make this sort of thing impossible around here.
Second_Guess_25@reddit
"This is why we can't have nice things", vibe going on 😭
wedontneednoeduc@reddit
Certain areas have a culture of selling at the gate and others don't, often it's because sleepy places have less cash flowing around so people do side jobs to earn a little extra.
BuildingArmor@reddit
It's an honesty box with cake in it
PurplePlodder1945@reddit
Me too!! They’re boring brown where I live!
DiabolicallyOrange@reddit
This single thread has made me feel very happy I got off all social media a few months ago. It's nice to not be bombarded by the dumbest shit all the time.
F4tcat69@reddit
Same
Glittered_Fingers@reddit
I had this exact reaction to someone on Reddit wondering about setting up a 'Trinket Library' a couple of weeks back. They were concerned that the market was saturated. I had never once come across the concept. 'Cake Shed' is a brand new pairing of words to me too.
jizzyjugsjohnson@reddit
Same. No idea what OP is on about
Interesting_Fish309@reddit
People bake cakes at home then have a shed outside to sell them. With an honesty box is it.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
Same people need to be registered with their local council. But most probably are and usually their cake shed is in addition to taking cake orders etc.
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
If I were the council, I would also want to know where to find all the freshly-baked cake
wedontneednoeduc@reddit
Finally, we have the plot for part two of the Untouchables.
Sunshinebear2007@reddit
That sounds lovely!
jizzyjugsjohnson@reddit
I see
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
So far...
In my area, there aren't any cake sheds. But I know about them because I'm a baker (both as a hobby and part time business).
Forever-A@reddit
Saw my first on Sunday and was like huh I guess it’s real after all
dabassmonsta@reddit
There are none in my village yet but there are five of them in the next town. Only a matter of time.
There are a few more a bit further afield that advertise on the local Facebook groups.
greenneedleuk@reddit
I have never ever heard of this nor seen one. lol. Is this middle class suburbia or something?
lkap28@reddit
In short, yes. They have a few start-up costs and aren’t always immediately profitable - not to mention they work mainly on an honesty system - so typically run by people who can afford to lose money in the short term.
Equally, they’re likely to do better in areas where there aren’t hundreds of established cafes or supermarkets - I just moved from a cosy estate to inner city and have gone from three cake sheds in walking distance to zero haha
greenneedleuk@reddit
Ahh so they're a bit like the old Farmer's trust things on the side of the road
GreenCup3426@reddit
I live on a council estate and there's 2 near me so I would hazard a guess at 'no'
Isgortio@reddit
Yeah where I am is a mixture of council and non council, there's a few. I had a look at one but everything was just sat in a plate for people to touch with their hands, I don't trust people to not have disgusting hands lol.
GreenCup3426@reddit
Eww 🤢 at least round here, they're all individually wrapped!
Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit
I think it's become a cost of living side hustle.
Rubostars@reddit
We don't have those in middle class areas. It's more upper class thing
MoreUnadventurous@reddit
There are a couple on council/ex council streets in my small Scottish town (not really middle class suburbia). But everyone knows everyone so that helps deter theft I think.
CulturePrevious4745@reddit
I imagine that 30degree heat may take the shine off somewhat
Sam-Lowry27B-6@reddit
The one near us is outside a business that bakes cakes for coffee shops and restaurants so it's just a small side hustle for them. Hopefully it will stay though because the cakes are banging
DiabolicallyOrange@reddit
I'm not on any social media, so what on earth is a cake shed?
Specific-Sundae2530@reddit
I'm delighted that in my neighborhood there's no such thing.
Ultimate_os@reddit
None in my area either. But my village doesn’t have any pavements and is quite spread out, so no passing trade if there was one.
Ok_Impact9745@reddit
What started as a way for people to share their hobby and give a little bit back to the community has turned into one of those basic bitch Facebook mum "hustles" for those who haven't resorted to only fans yet.
Almost no legislation adhered to. No hygiene rating, no allergen protocols adhered to. No tax paid.
Ultimate_os@reddit
Like the sweet boxes a few years ago? Knock off haribo chucked into a cardboard box at ridiculously high prices?
iliketoaaast@reddit
Councils in my area (a few different ones) have made a few of them close until they have street trader licenses. So I guess it depends on whether these sheds are able to get them.
Otherwise they may turn into a click and collect type service if the people running them want to continue.
Ultimate_os@reddit
They’d still need to be registered as a commercial kitchen and all that jazz.
shpdoinkle@reddit
I’m regularly seeing posts about cake sheds, usually with camera footage of the people who steal all they can carry and/or try to take the contents of the cash box, if there is one.
Considering there are folks who will gladly stroll into high street shops and supermarkets and help themselves in full public view, it’s no wonder that unattended outlets are also being emptied.
I support people having side gigs that play to their strengths, and I’m a big fan of cakes and cookies, but it does seem as though this particular niche may have a shelf-life of its own.
Ultimate_os@reddit
The risk of being ‘shedlifted’ is too big. 😅
FreeBogwoppits@reddit
They're constantly in my local paper with photos of sad faced shed owners complaining all their cakes were taken without payment. So I give it 18 months at the most.
It was the same with honesty boxes for eggs and vegetable plants.
Ultimate_os@reddit
We had a few people selling eggs from honesty boxes in their driveways a few years ago. It didn’t last long.
heypresto2k@reddit
I wish there was a cake shed where I was crying for 🍰
dreadwitch@reddit
Pink sheds vs brown ones?
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
Until summer when everything goes off and someone gets food poisoning from sum gaw jus ickle cawkes
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
I've actually set up alerts on marketplace and eBay for cake shed/tool shed.
A few years ago women decided wearing Dickies 874 trousers with the top turned down was a good look, 4 months later I was picking up almost new pairs for a fiver 😂😂😂😂
m205@reddit
What does that second part have to do with the first part hahaha
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
That women will jump on trends then soon abandon them, plus I'm set for life with trousers.
Sad-Nectarine-7855@reddit
And to be fair, and because this is the Internet and some noble knob will claim im misogynistic.
Lots of women are neurodivergent and mask incredible well due to the pressures put on women from a young age, and impulsively starting something and soon losing all interest is incredibly common trait of ADHD, which lots of women i know definitely have but cant access assements for because the medical world is still catching up to the fact women can be neurodivergent too
loveswimmingpools@reddit
They seem really lovely to me. Kind of quaint and old fashioned.
booyahhey@reddit
I thought you meant people were painting their sheds to look like cakes! I was imagining sheds with pink icing and sprinkles painted on. I thought that sounded fun. I was wrong, and disappointed
oneconfusedqueer@reddit
I also thought this and am now sorely disappointed!
Fitzwilf@reddit
Hadn't heard of them until now. Doesn't sound like something I would use. My (borderline neurotic) concerns about hygiene would have me worried that some random would be touching cakes they're not planning buying. It's also my observation that the kind of person who doesn't think it is a big deal to touch food that other people will be consuming is strongly correlated with the kind of person who doesn't wash their hands very often.
m205@reddit
You ever seen someone grab pastries straight from the shelves at an M&S bakery with their bare hands? 🤢🤬
m205@reddit
Personally, as an anxious germaphobe, they're an ick for me. Just the thought of food made by someone I don't know, sitting outside all day at the mercy of other people walking by who I also don't know... Nah. Also can't help but notice the few I've seen pop up on Facebook have AI logos which is double ick -- if you're too lazy to make a logo then I can only imagine you're too lazy to wash your hands and kitchen etcetera lol (especially with less health & safety eyes on you as compared to a proper café/bakery).
mynameisjodie@reddit
It's such a stupid idea. I work with the public and don't trust them why would anyone trust a stranger to pay for something when noones going to see them steak
peachtxra@reddit
About another year till they have all been robbed too many times to be sustainable
stillanmcrfan@reddit
The what?!
WhereverIGoIWillBe@reddit
I went four weeks in a row to the one on my way home from work…the reason I’ve stopped…they’re on holiday…
I’ll be back!!!! For a very long time 😂
Scarred_fish@reddit
Local one here started on 2012. Now it's a full time business emplyoying 4 full time and several part time staff.
Mental_Water_2694@reddit
This might just be a you thing, never heard of it, never seen it. I'm chronically online.
Victoriaspalace@reddit
Nah definitely not just an OP thing, there's definitely a trend of cake sheds popping up. Already have a few in my local area.
bossanovasupernova@reddit
Is it just a shed you paint pink and have a cake in? Is there anything more to it than that
Cultural-Ambition211@reddit
It’s a honesty system. Someone puts cakes in it with prices and you turn up and take what you want, and hopefully pay.
tlvv@reddit
People can afford to do baking and just hope some takes it AND that they’re honest?
NecessaryBluebird652@reddit
These have been around for donkeys years in the country side on walking routes. You see it with Eggs a lot as well, they put the eggs at the bottom of the drive and an honesty box.
DinkyPrincess@reddit
People can’t afford to keep running small shop fronts and are trying it along with local events and supplying independent coffee shops to stay in business, yes.
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
I'm surprised this isn't a thing in my area, people are always looking for fun things to do with the unused phone boxes
TolverOneEighty@reddit
I live in a friendly but rougher Scottish neighborhood, and I have discovered an actual functional phone box a few streets away. My English pal was like 'and it wasn't turned into a little library??' and I thought, bless his middle-class heart, that's not a thing here. Glad to hear it is elsewhere.
TryTrynTryAgain@reddit
It’s also used as a stepping stone into making your own cake shop. It’s a massive expense to open a shop, you need to have word of mouth and referrals from day one to make it full time.
With these cake sheds, it’s doing your hobby part time, whilst advertising and hopefully not losing money. Eventually, you may start getting custom orders in and you can weigh up taking it full time.
DinkyPrincess@reddit
Yep and talented local independents deserve a shot. I’ll always use independent local businesses where pot
Milam1996@reddit
Depends where you live. I live in a really nice area now and know everyone would pay (namely because we have one already for farm stuff) whilst my old shit hole estate someone tried giving away terra cotta plant pots and some rot bag bastards smashed them all the same day.
BuildingArmor@reddit
It probably depends where you are, but honesty boxes are pretty common in some places
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
Mostly for produce.
I think that the issue with the cake sheds is that they are popping up in more suburban areas as opposed to down quiet village lanes.
regulator202@reddit
Also the cost of the shed and the pink paint. Can't be very profitable really
NecroVelcro@reddit
The shit rag who stole from this lady, who runs the Treat Street Bake Shed in Spalding, wasn't. BBC Breakfast also ran a piece about it. It showed CCTV footage not only of the thief grabbing the cakes but tried to get into the cash box.
Dd_8630@reddit
I can't tell if you're joking or not.
Cultural-Ambition211@reddit
I’m not. There are loads of them around. In the “nice” areas, mostly!
OldEquation@reddit
Round my way you’d find the honesty box, cakes and shed all gone within an hour.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
That's fabulous for the baker.
Ancient-Awareness115@reddit
Same
Soggy_Tangerine9340@reddit
Around here it works well, they have CCTV and card readers too.
As well as outside houses, you’ll find them in the local clubs.
They appear to be quite profitable and can lead to larger cake orders.
AliBelle1@reddit
It's a shed full of cakes that you buy on an honor based system (they're usually unattended), like getting eggs from the local farm but with more tiktok clout chasing.
tenthcat@reddit
They sell cakes out of the shed
mastfest@reddit
You’re chronically online so of course you’ve not seen the IRL cake sheds
And_Justice@reddit
Or maybe some of us don't live in these quaint twee Facebooky areas?
Solid_Western_138@reddit
I live in Batley, which is far from quaint, and there's a couple of those cake sheds near me.
And_Justice@reddit
What does that have to do with those of us who don't live in areas where these are a thing?
pajamakitten@reddit
But they are all over social media, so someone who is chronically online would see them or see people talking about them.
Milam1996@reddit
Lmao
minadequate@reddit
I don’t live in the uk anymore but I’m chronically online… and I’m aware of it. There’s one with a big social media presence called something like Topsys
Mental_Water_2694@reddit
Well, how do people find out that neighboring cities have these sheds?
How do we all know OP has seen sheds and a bunch of people haven't.
Cmon pal, use your noggin.
ImFamousYoghurt@reddit
I don’t think you’ll see them much unless you’re online much in things like local Facebook groups
folklovermore_@reddit
Yeah, I would describe myself as a fairly "online" person but I don't use Facebook much, and I'd never heard of this before this thread.
Dull_Hawk9416@reddit
It’s not just FB it’s all over social media in general
kettlejuices@reddit
It's possible now to be 'chronically online' and still not see trends that haven't been deemed worthy of your attention by an algorithm because you aren't (insert oddly specific personal profile).
IUsedToLikeLimericks@reddit
There's one in my village. It isn't pink though.
heroics-delta8s@reddit
Now you are aware of it you’ll see about three of them today advertised / talked about on Facebook/instagram. .
ayeayefitlike@reddit
Definitely not. There’s about 4 near me as well.
jasminenice@reddit
It's not an online thing.
BaBaFiCo@reddit
Not sure what's online about a physical shed people sell cakes out of. We have one near me.
AreaMiserable9187@reddit
In the past few months, 4 have opened in my small town (and yes I’ve visited two…)
blueroses8000@reddit
Got one in our street and lots of stuff online about it recently.
jelsei@reddit
There's one a few villages away from me, it's an elderly lady who puts so much effort into it! Cakes, cookies and brownies - she also sells eggs, plants, chicken manure, the lot. I visit regularly for cakes and put in an extra quid as it brings me joy. I'm in rural Somerset and we're lucky that nearly everyone is honest round here
Second_Guess_25@reddit
This is it. I don't think people's cake sheds - that work largely on being honest, and on an unsupervised basis, along with an honesty box, would work if you live in some high crime, urban shit hole.
I live in rural NE Scotland and we have lots of cake sheds dotted around in our small towns, but out in the countryside too.
They're a delight to stumble upon, especially if you're out cycling or walking or example 👍
Mediocre_Sprinkles@reddit
There's 2 sheds in my local town. One was robbed of over 25 cakes, the other was smashed in at night (thankfully no cakes were harmed). Both in the past week.
I live very rural and there's about 4 within a 15 mins drive. Love getting random cakes when I pass one, especially the cookie pies.
Cumulus-Crafts@reddit
Hello, neighbour!
jelsei@reddit
Definitely, one of the best pros of living rurally. I was elated to find something that wasn't chicken eggs for sale, which seems to be every other house 😂
SasiBan@reddit
If you don't mind me asking, which village is this in? I too live in rural Somerset...and very much like cake
jelsei@reddit
I DMed you 😊
Classic-Wafer-7838@reddit
Me too please!
jelsei@reddit
I can't DM you! DM me first and I'll send it ◡̈
bippity12@reddit
Me too please!
jelsei@reddit
I can't DM you! DM me first and I'll send it 😊
hellojaddy@reddit
near Taunton or Ilminster by any chance?
jelsei@reddit
Nearer Crewkerne ◡̈
Classic-Wafer-7838@reddit
I'm near there *insert suspicious squinty eye meme*
Always weird to think you could be passing a fellow Redditor in Co-op!
_Isosceles_Kramer_@reddit
Do you also like manure? The manure goes with it, kind of a package. Also a Squarepusher CD.
SasiBan@reddit
Only because its chicken manure, any other manure would be gross. Love a chicken shit topper
Madamemercury1993@reddit
Also here to ask who she is!
jelsei@reddit
I DMed you!
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
Retirement goals!
john_tartufo@reddit
Cupboard with cake and chicken manure in 30 degree weather. take my money
iDidNotStepOnTheFrog@reddit
This sounds delightful!
crumpetsandchai@reddit
Sounds cute and wholesome but as someone who lives in London and been to Lidl enough times, I don’t trust anyone in my neighbourhood’s hygiene
Dread_queen23@reddit
I saw a reel the other day of a guy just taking all the produce out of a cake shed and not paying. It just ruins it for everyone so I'd get why people would stop doing it
GoodboyJohnnyBoy@reddit
Is this a reference to Chris Morris' cake scare?
Cumulus-Crafts@reddit
There was one in my neighbourhood during lockdown that got shut down after someone reported it to the council :( It was really nice cakes as well
craftaleislife@reddit
And that’s a bad thing? Come on.
nemmalur@reddit
Cake shed? You mean gateau hut?
psyper76@reddit
Surely a Gateau Chateau
Monstrrbleu@reddit
shredditorburnit@reddit
Ideally built on a large, flat, elevated area.
notsosecrethistory@reddit
Motte and Bakely
WillowCreekWanderer@reddit
Stotty and Bakely
SpaTowner@reddit
Gateaux on the plateau are found mainly in the chateau.
EruditeKetchup@reddit
A pastry palace?
Moppo_@reddit
Gateau hut? You mean torte hovel?
WhoNeedsButtons@reddit
lol I have one on my street, sadly it’s not very good except it sells local eggs which is great. Can’t see it lasting unless she gets to be a better baker
Fun_Anybody6745@reddit
Having worked in catering and done quite a lot of food hygiene training, I am always slightly bemused by the willingness of people to buy food prepared in some random person’s kitchen. it’s like the whole ‘grazing table’ trend during the latter stages of the pandemic - just why?
Spottyjamie@reddit
The one in my city had to remind people the cakes werent free within a week!!
Also im wondering if the businesses who pay for cafe premises, hygiene certs etc are annoyed that the sheds bypass all that cost and requirements
EntertainerPresent88@reddit
Same food law applies whether it’s a cake shed or a fancy Michelin star restaurant. They also need planning permission sometimes - depends on where they are.
Some are done really well and it’s impressive, some are done with zero thought. Either way, they seem to be everywhere now. People give up their day jobs to run them!
CatFoodBeerAndGlue@reddit
The only one I've used had a hygiene safety rating sticker for the kitchen displayed inside the shed and all the cakes were labelled up with full ingredients and allergen info.
It had a Ring camera inside, a card reader and a QR code to pay by PayPal. It was a pretty slick setup.
Round_Grand_4716@reddit
The closest to me is a professional caterer. There are 3 or so more in the vicinity but I'm not sure what their set up is. I'm sure they're great, but shed doesn't immediately connect with food for me, it mostly makes me think of spiders and cobwebs.
lkap28@reddit
As far as I’m aware, hygiene certificates still apply - at least the same basics you’d expect from someone working in a professional kitchen.
clucks86@reddit
They also need council permission. There are two near me. One has had to remove her shed because someone reported her and they won't let her put the shed where she wanted. There was very specific rules about it.
Soggy_Tangerine9340@reddit
Yes they do need hygiene certificates, the ones around here have them.
TheHootOwlofDeath@reddit
There are a couple of cake shops near me who are scathing about cake sheds.
I don't have strong feelings either way but cake sheds seem to charge the same as going in a bakery round here.
fugelwoman@reddit
Leaving strangers alone with food? I wouldn’t take anything from there. People are savages.
Dedward5@reddit
Why don’t the use the “emergency sign stores” I see on the road network that seem to have been a very important thing, and now arnt.
LurkingWithStyle@reddit
I didn't know what they were called but there's a couple by me. I live in a rural village so they're in amongst potted plants, eggs and honey.
Honestly? I love the idea. My biggest gripe being i rarely carry cash and every now and again kids ruin it by pinching the coins out of the box. But really I think there should be more of this.
Rubostars@reddit
You mean the cake shed near St Martha's Hill? You have 4 of those on your estate? wow lol
CurlsandCream@reddit
Apparently there are at least 2 in my (large) town! Didn’t realise!
DiscoDoberman@reddit
I like seeing businesses open in our communities.
Unfortunately I'm sure the government will get wind and find some way to tax/rate/regulate them out of existence.
WildWinterberry@reddit
I must be too poor to know what this is
Critical_Studio_2327@reddit
Our lane's brilliant cake (bread/honey/vegetables) closed after the council required two separate kitchen spaces, one nut-free, for it to operate. It's much missed.
OrganicPoet1823@reddit
It will be fine until they lose more to theft than they make
idontlikemondays321@reddit
I think it’s cute. I’d probably regularly buy if there was one nearby
shanloulie@reddit
i for one see no problem with readily available homemade goods that i don’t have to speak to anyone to purchase long may it thrive
bhuree3@reddit
They've been around in rural places for years. There's usually no shops nearby so it's a nice way to get a wee treat locally. Don't think I'd bother in a town with other options tbh
letsgetmarriedlol@reddit
I love them, I can get a homemade treat for £1-2ish and it means I don’t have to drive 25 minutes into the nearest town
Electronic-Stay-2369@reddit
The what now?
jesuseatsbees@reddit
I don’t think they’re going to last long in my area. It started off with one (very popular) cake maker, then all of a sudden everyone who’s anyone had stuck a cupboard on their driveway, filling it with expensive slices of cake. We already have a few cake shops that do really well so I don’t know if anyone is making much money from the shed.
I saw a post from one yesterday complaining that she hadn’t had a single sale, with a photo showing dozens of slices of chocolate cake sweating away in the sun. If you’re that bad at predicting what your customers will want, you’re surely not going to last long.
Dazz316@reddit
I opened in my town, saw it on facebook and heard a few people walk about it. Haven't heard a peep about it since.
WoodyManic@reddit
What the fuck is a cake shed?
Druid_at_heart@reddit
Not sure, but as someone who lives a 45 minute walk away from a shop I'm very glad to have them around!
We've got eggs, cakes, breads and excess grown foods where I am
Specialist_Emu7274@reddit
Heavily depends on how often it’s used & how often people actually buy things. There’s a few that I have been seeing for years & always have a queue for the cakes. Then others that are gone within 6 months.
CornelliSausage@reddit
Aw I wish we had one. I live in Birmingham though so everything would immediately be stolen, possibly including the actual shed.
KinManana@reddit
Oh god there's one opposite my house but I had no idea it was a basic ass trend. Thought they were being quite clever
OkTechnician4610@reddit
Some councils have started charging extra council tax - saying it’s a business even if selling a few cakes & a bit of honey. Some people I believe do exploit it & have it as a business. So not pay for extra taxes or deal with food safety . Once a few councils do it others will follow. I buy honey & eggs from a local person who has honesty box.
OkTechnician4610@reddit
It’s going to slow down some councils are charging extra council tax as they are viewed as a business. Even if you just sell a bit of honey or cakes a few times a week. Some people are exploiting it by running a business. If it is a real business they need to have h&s & food safety to consider. I get honey from local person & eggs.
Cheesestrings89@reddit
Huh. I’ve never seen a pink shed in my life.
lovemycat02@reddit
Boo!
tjjwaddo@reddit
We have one near us. It's not a typical garden shed shape but is definitely pink.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
None of the cake sheds near me are pink
Geknock@reddit
They're all grey in my area.
TieSea3723@reddit
There’s one on my road and it’s super popular. She’s open every weekend but often has to close early as she’s sold out. She’s been doing it a couple of months now and surprisingly every single bake/cake has always been paid for! (They work on an honesty box payment system) and I’m in London!
mum2endermen@reddit
Pic of my local cake shed for those who haven't seen one before.
Sunny_Starlight@reddit
I'm surprised people think this is a new thing - I remember growing up there was a house down the road from me that had a cake shed 25+ years ago. I feel like it's more common in rural areas. Although this one was not a pink shed...
I don't see the harm if people have done their hygiene certificates etc. I guess this might be another side effect of the cost of living crisis. And maybe people who want a second hand pink shed can keep a look out on Facebook marketplace.
Defiant-Ad8425@reddit
Where i used to live we had something similar but it was a foodbank that locals left food at for people who needed help, people would leave tinned food, uht milk, eggs, and bread for others to take what they needed. Maybe if the fad ends people could do that instead
thereisalwaysrescue@reddit
I follow a woman who does one on tiktok. She looks miserable at the best of times but when she’s telling you she’s getting up at 0400 on a Saturday morning to make sourdough bread and cookies, she looks even more mardy.
I don’t understand how she makes any money; she buys everything from Tesco and her husband is driving back and forth to the hut filling it up every hour. She’s making it in her kitchen with no hair net and gloves.
What’s 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 point?
CactiPrincess@reddit
I think I know the women you mean. I’m also like ummm this is your domestic kitchen. How do we know your cooking/refrigeration/storage is acceptable?!
Also I have a crazy scary peanut allergy and I just don’t trust them to have a professional understanding of allergens and cross contamination 🤣 so my view will always be negative
fistmcbeefpunch@reddit
What is a cake shed????
achillea4@reddit
What the heck is a cake shed? Sounds like more Instagrammer BS.
flosiraptor@reddit
I wouldn't eat food made in a kitchen that hadn't either been professionally inspected (restaurant etc) or that I had seen with my own eyes (friend's house etc).
I'm not obsessive about food hygiene, per se, but I've been inside enough strangers' houses in my line of work to know that more people than you would think live in appallingly unhygienic conditions!
Dazade@reddit
There's so many near me. The other day someone was complaining on Facebook because they hadn't sold anything over the bank holiday weekend. I can't imagine anything I want less than a sweaty cake in a plastic container when it's 30°C
fluffy_samoyed@reddit
We have some, pink too. I'm conflicted about them, as in the one hand they're a cute and novel idea for a side hustle. On the other, they're potentially highly unhygienic and perhaps a food poisoning or allergen risk. Sheds aren't exactly known for good climate control.
Auntie_Cagul@reddit
It will last for as long as there are honest people paying for their cakes.
Once word gets out where to get 'free cake' then the trend will end.
As a part time baker, I love the concept. It reminds me of those produce sheds in quiet country villages which have been in existence for decades. However, it is one thing to add a spare box of your hens' eggs or some spare tomatoes and quite another to spend time and money baking items. Plus the added stress on having to bake regularly in order to keep your shed stocked. Even I don't bake in 30 degree heat unless I have a cake order! 🥵
Will I be joining the trend? No. Would I purchase from a cake shed? Quite possibly - depending on what they are selling.
DanielleBun@reddit
I haven’t heard on any in our town but there’s 2 in my mums town. One - the lady does catering as her full time job so the shed is like a side hustle, she stocks it I think at the weekends and it always seems to sell out. The other is a mum and son duo, I think the son has learning disabilities but is passionate about baking. I’ve only heard of this one and haven’t seen it. I mean, if people are buying then people will be selling, I don’t see anything wrong with it.
owlracoon@reddit
Oh my village has one. Didn't know it was a thing uk wide!!
Wolfdreama@reddit
Hopefully soon.
My daughter is a pastry chef and she's been horrified by them. Most of them will be baked in unhygienic conditions, you don't know if the person has pets, is a smoker or anything.
tulki123@reddit
I’ve not seen a cake shed, but I have seen a coffee shed and it changed my life! At the beginning of a popular walking trail you walk past a farm and they have a shed with coffee machine and snacks!
Dang_Boy82@reddit
Cake shed?
EngelbortHumperdonk@reddit
The what?
_Jay-Garage-A-Roo_@reddit
Ah… I have seen this online but didn’t realise it was a trend. I guess it depends on the neighbourhood
DirectionSpecific103@reddit
I've never heard of this or seen any near me 🤔
unluckypig@reddit
Oh! That's what it's all about. There are a couple around where I live and I've been confused about what they are.
I give it a month before it all stops.
Madamemercury1993@reddit
We have a few here in Bristol. There’s one near my local supermarket who I dropped in on recently. Not pink! Brown! And very tasteful. The stuff was brilliant too.
We have a classic campervan and when we’re gallivanting about if we see little farm shop sheds we’ll stop and take a nose and let the van cool for a bit. I don’t see these as any different.
The one I went to had her certificates and inspections on view to read. So long as they’re doing their due diligence I’m happy to support someone’s side hustle.
According-Let3541@reddit
We’ve reached the stage where councils are getting involved - in my local area, two cake sheds are involving the council in their rivalry, with the council investigating things such as whether the sheds extend beyond the individual’s garden in which case a different license is needed (or something). I think councils will soon get fed up, bring in relevant rules around cake sheds and once red tape is involved, many will lose interest. The USP at the moment is that it sits outside many existing business licensing rules (at least in my local authority).
hamstertoybox@reddit
My local cake shed is upgrading to a cake van!
Charlottebopp@reddit
They will probably just turn into little libraries
peerie-breeks@reddit
In Shetland there’s cake fridges dotted around the islands, they must do well enough as they’ve been about for several years.
sarahc13289@reddit
Cake sheds have been a thing for a while. I thought about setting up a home baking business at one point about 6 or 7 years ago and they were very much a thing in the groups I was in at the time.
I don’t get the derision that seems to have sprung up on here about them. Anyone running a food business should be registered with the local council and this can easily be checked on their website to see which are legit and which are not. Registered food businesses will have to comply with food hygiene and allergen regulations.
confuzzledfather@reddit
They are one of the few ways still open to people to make a little extra cash and be their own boss without being rinsed for rent/rates. I don't get the derision either.
-Pamalamadingdong@reddit
Not long at all. People aren’t honest enough for a self serve cake shed nowadays.
confuzzledfather@reddit
I live on the roughest estate in the area, and our cake shed has been going for years. The lady who runs it has never had a problem with theft. People are generally honest in my experience.
Fyonella@reddit
They work perfectly well in Shetland. Have done for years.
ZombieGash@reddit
Only ever seen people posting theirs online. Sounds like the new wax melts trend.
_Anxious_Hedgehog_@reddit
Got about 4 in our area and I'm quite rural
Saltysockies@reddit
My local cake shed always sells out, I only know because they brag about it.
I bought a couple of brownies and although good the ingredients were all powders, nothing fresh, so it was just a premade brownie mix which they buy in bulk and charge £3.50 per slice.
The one near my friend is cheaper and they use actual ingredients.
lkap28@reddit
They give me the ick tbh, I picture sheds being all musty and full of spiders - even when painted pink.
Fair play to the people having a go at it, but I imagine only the most enthusiastic people will make them work long-term. Baking is surprisingly expensive, particularly once you factor in your own time.
Four cake sheds on one estate is a lot of competition without much demand, and that’s with the novelty aspect still intact - eventually only the strongest will survive, and that’s pushing it.
I give it two years.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
They'll absolutely succeed or die on the strength of their cleanliness and the quality of the cake. I suspect they also need to be somewhere high traffic en route to somewhere pleasant - eg beside a footpath to a popular destination - rather than just on a housing estate, add the best customers will will be passing traffic that's in the mood for a treat. Ideally not just the same dog walkers doing the same loop each day.
Plane_Cut9127@reddit
There's quite a few in the Outer Hebrides and they do surprisingly well all year round.
FlagVenueIslander@reddit
The cake shed on our reasonably nice estate lasted two weekends, because all the kids from the town came and stole the cake. Can’t say I was sorry…… extra traffic on a cul de sac, extra people turning cars around outside not the cake shed house, and unsolicited advertising about cake in our estate what’s app group 😂
whered_yougo@reddit
I think they’ll disappear once the council realise they aren’t being properly regulated, and also once they find a way to charge people for having one. I’m a baker and see a lot of chat about them online but interestingly have never seen one in person near me.
Beautiful-Falcon-277@reddit
I live in a town with fairly high crime rate, the cakes and shed would be stolen within the hour. Those buying from these places how do they cover allergen info? How do you know the conditions of where it was baked?
SaltyLilSelkie@reddit
Some councils are starting to demand that they get licences for street trading at a huge cost - which they wouldn’t need if they sold cakes from their front door. The one near me is an established cake business looking for another income stream so she’s already got all her food hygiene and insurance and that. I believe a licence is around £1000 so it’s going to cause a lot of people to close if more councils start demanding them.
moonbrows@reddit
This is what’s happening with the local one near me, she has it set up on the edge of her drive (that stretched around the corner of her house) and she’s currently closed because she’s being told to get a street trading license after about 2-3 years of doing this. She’s got the food hygiene and allergen certificates etc, safety measures in place but the council has been very heavy handed and intimidating. I don’t see it as any different to farmers/small holdings with eggs and honesty boxes on the side of the road.
iliketoaaast@reddit
A few surrounding councils to me are doing the same with cake sheds. I wonder if the councils are demanding the same of the people I see selling their eggs in honesty box way?
username_not_clear@reddit
I live in the outer hebrides, they're a long running phenomenon here. Lots in tourist season but some tend to close for the winter months.
Jumpy-Jello-@reddit
They've existed as long as I can remember for preserves and eggs in rural areas. They'll probably turn into little free libraries if the cakes run out.
Scottish_squirrel@reddit
They are popular in the Hebrides which is great as theres few shops. I don't think I'd be stopping at one in a town or city. But if you do have one, have. PayPal code for paying and not just cash!
Alwayslearnin41@reddit
We have a couple near us - and now an ice cream one has just started.
TulipTattsyrup99@reddit
Cakes in a shed, in this heat?
JohnnyOneLung@reddit
Never seen one or heard of one.
Shared in Billericay
dope567fum@reddit
Eh????? 1st I've heard of this
InspiringGecko@reddit
I’ve only ever seen one and sadly nowhere near where I live. I would love to have these near my home.
Tarot_Cat_Witch@reddit
My local council has said they have to have a street traders licence and few have shut down!
moonbrows@reddit
I love the cake huts, the one near me has a numberpad so you can’t just get into it and tamper with anything, and a camera so they can see who doesn’t pay. She keeps it in the side alley and has a little sign pointing to it. Unfortunately jobsworths from the council have said she needs a street trading license and haven’t processed her application for 4 months, although it’s on private property (she’s been doing this for years!) so it’s closed at the moment.
yedhead@reddit
The cake shed near ours turned into a full blown delicious cake shop in town, so no complaints from me!
Selpmis@reddit
First I've heard of it. I like the idea. Though, especially in this weather, I'd be concerned about how the cakes hold up.
Also I wonder about licences/hygiene-type requirements. I picture a council busybody taking an interest in closing them all down.
It'd never happen near me. They'd all be stolen within in an hour, thrown all over the road and the shed burnt down by EOD.
BaBaFiCo@reddit
They require a hygiene certificate. And the one near me has one.
AreaMiserable9187@reddit
There’s four in my small town and I like them! I like supporting small businesses and getting a sweet treat out of it because you’re not going to find kinder bueno brownies in my local co-op. So far not seen any shaming on FB of people being dishonest. One has a Ring doorbell that goes off when you open and each bake in wrapped and sealed so you’d see if there was tampering (I assume? Can’t say I’ve ever considered that?)
postcardsfromdan@reddit
My neighbour started doing that a few weeks ago. Didn’t realise it was a trend thing - thought it was just something she’d come up with. I’ve had people mistakenly park on my drive to use it. Smells good when the baking happens but haven’t sampled the wares.
heartpassenger@reddit
I’m just waiting for the Netflix doc on the “cake shed poisonings”
Compo face vox pops. Dramatic stings. “Sorry, can I have a tissue?” Intense zoomed in shots of the cake shed at night. Recreated scenes of someone evil… baking a cake… evilly.
Proud_Ad_8915@reddit
A pink shed appeared on the next street but as it has no signage and it's so far from the road there is no telling what's inside as I don't want to wander up someone's drive way to see if it is a cake shed. It's the first one I've seen in my area
firthy@reddit
thewhatnows..?
Interesting-Hawk-744@reddit
Your Da has a cake shed
Downtown-Orchid-2257@reddit
With a sideline in Avon.
yearsofpractice@reddit
Which is why ya ma is so fat
sleepy-popcorn@reddit
We have one but it’s £4.95 for a small slice of cake or brownie so it’s hard to justify unfortunately.
Downtown-Orchid-2257@reddit
Definitely a thing although most of our local ones are grey. I'm impressed by the forward thinkers that have card payment options. And CCTV for the inevitable drama when folk don't pay.
The one closest to me is really good but the prices start at £3 for one portion. £12 a week on cakes for our family of 4 isn't really budget friendly for us.
DrRanjseyebrows@reddit
The cake shed in my village is indeed pink 😂 Sadly it only lasted long enough for one cake sale and then fell apart after some particularly inclement weather!!
Additional-Guard-211@reddit
Even if this is a thing, paint does exist
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
We have 2 in the village (the village has about 40 houses) … so I’m pretty much set for chocolate brownies and fudge for life
NoChallenge165@reddit
We just got one in our village
Healthy_Pilot_6358@reddit
I just find the pricing crazy. They’re charging like £5 for a brownie slice or something. I’d expect to pay the same price in a cafe, not from a shed in an estate somewhere. Surely the prices should be about £1 for a slice of something?
sarahc13289@reddit
Baking is surprisingly expensive. They won’t even be breaking even at £1 per slice. These sheds should be registered as food businesses and follow the same regulations as cafes. I am sure there are some that don’t, but it is easy to check who is registered and who isn’t on the local council website.
DinkyPrincess@reddit
Only recently saw this is a thing.
TBH having seen several extremely talented local bakeries close down not to lack of public support but crippling business and materials costs, if it helps people I’m all for it.
Salt_King_2008@reddit
We have one in our large village, but it has a 5* hygene rating and the baker also supplies the local pub so o can’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. It’s excellent
blurredlynes@reddit
I thought the cake shed thing was one specific person after the council told them off for not having a food hygiene rating/professional kitchen. As featured in Angry People in Local Newspapers.
EcstaticAd9234@reddit
Absolutely love that page!
Kim_catiko@reddit
There was a Facebook post on the local area group recently trying to gauge reactions about someone doing this. I don't like the idea of it. I feel like people can tamper with the cakes too easily.
Moppo_@reddit
The what now?
ChoppingOnionsForYou@reddit
Assuming it was a shed decorated to look like a cake, I googled it. Turns out it's a shed in which people sell cakes. But they're unmanned, and people have to be honest and pay for their goodies.
APiousCultist@reddit
takes a bite
Nope, just shed. I hate this game.
...honestly never heard of it, but surely a year before it just becomes blasé?
aries_163@reddit
We have one in our village that has been going a few months. We’ve used it quite a few times. Seems to be going quite well.
Sorry-Tea524@reddit
Once people start deliberately stealing.
Or worse when someone tampers with the food then goes viral then copycats would pop-up.
roidweiser@reddit
Is this clean places where people can take as much Cake as they want without the fear of
ams3000@reddit
Never heard of this. Never seen one either.
RightInTheGreyPoupon@reddit
A Tiramisu Tumble-de-hoy
LightWorkerBoy-144@reddit
We have been using one near ours. Lovely people, they will also do brewed coffee, or tea and live near a nature park, with no shops within easy range so it's a no brainer.
Etheria_system@reddit
What the fuck is a cake shed?
Psychological-Fox97@reddit
I understand both those words and I can guess what they might.mean together but it would be a guess. Never seen one, think I might have heard/ seen the phrase used before though... maybe.... once.
carefulcroc@reddit
This is how Pizza Hut started.
Southern-Orchid-1786@reddit
Is it a franchise thing?
Victoriaspalace@reddit
It's not. Just a more accessible way for people to sell items without having a shop front. Easier to stick a box outside your house than deliver/own a bakery.
smushs88@reddit
We have two nearby, although both oddly a teal shade down this way.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.