A home cake shed in Flint has become a weekend sell-out just five weeks after opening, with its owner now celebrating a five-star food hygiene rating.
Wendy Stoneley runs The Cake Shed from her home on Ffordd Pedrog in Oakenholt, where she sells homemade cakes, brownies, cookie pies, cheesecakes, trifles and milkshakes.
The business was inspired by another cake shed Wendy saw on television and quickly became a reality.
“I’ve always enjoyed baking and made birthday cakes for family and friends,” she said. “People always gave me really good feedback and I thought, ‘I’d quite like to do something like that.’
“Within about a month I’d registered with the council, bought the shed and was up and running. I’ve not looked back. Every weekend is a sell-out.”
Built by Wendy’s husband, the original flat-pack shed was soon joined by a second refrigerated shed to meet demand for chilled desserts.
Wendy initially opened on Saturdays and Sundays but quickly added Fridays after repeatedly selling out.
“I thought I’d baked enough for the whole weekend, but by 5pm on Saturday everything had gone,” she said.
“I’d spend Saturday evening baking for Sunday, then added Fridays because people started coming on their lunch breaks. I start baking on Wednesdays now.”
The Cake Shed offers around 10 baked treats each weekend, with old school cake, cookie pies and brownies proving particularly popular. Wendy also introduces new recipes each week, often inspired by social media trends.
Customers now travel from across North Wales, including Wrexham and Kinmel Bay, while Wendy says the business has also brought her local community closer together.
“We’ve lived here about five years but never really knew the neighbours,” she said.
“Now people stop for a chat, ask what’s in the shed next week and keep coming back. It’s lovely.”
Last week, Wendy was awarded a five-star food hygiene rating following her first inspection.
“I was really chuffed,” she said. “I did lots of research before the inspection and Flintshire gave me plenty of guidance when I registered. She was really pleased with everything.”
Wendy also caters for customers with dietary requirements, regularly baking dairy-free treats and offering gluten-free options, with clear allergen labelling and separate packaging.
“My grandson has a milk allergy, so I know how important it is for people with allergies to have something they can choose,” she said.
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Everything is baked fresh, with Wendy often starting work at 4.30am to prepare for the weekend.
The Cake Shed operates on an honesty system, with customers able to pay by cash, card or QR code.
“The support has been amazing,” Wendy said. “People message me to say how much they’ve enjoyed the cakes and that they’ll be back. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Looking ahead, Wendy hopes to expand by taking her bakes to weddings and events in a converted vintage horsebox or ice cream van.
The Cake Shed is open every Friday from 12pm to 7pm and every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 7pm, or until sell out.
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