Trader Tales – A slice of YUM with Lemon Drizzle

We’re starting a brand new series of ‘Trader Tales’ – where you can find out more about the creative and pioneering entrepreneurs on our small but perfectly formed Manchester market.

You can take a look at the first one from Carafe Homewares, but now it’s the turn of the scrumptious Lemon Drizzle Tea & Cakes!

How did it all begin? 

Established in 2013, Lemon Drizzle Tea & Cakes was born out of a love of baking for friends and family. They sell traditional cakes and flapjacks with their own twist, by the slice. As well as selling at markets, they also supply a Heaton Moor cafe and create quirky, characterful birthday cakes, often using lemon drizzle cake as the base.

“We’ve always loved baking. Lots of people kindly told us we should do it professionally,” says Clare Simpson, one half of Lemon Drizzle and the face you’ll see at Levy Market.

“I gave up my job as Marketing Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre and we originally wanted to open a tea shop. When we couldn’t find our ideal premises, we started trading at Chorlton and Cheadle markets and we were lucky enough to join Levy Market last summer.”

Lemon Drizzle 2

 

Clare and Charlotte spend a manic three days baking and packing their cakes in the the run-up to market day. They bake all their cakes fresh at home. Lemon Drizzle has recently moved premises from Heaton Moor, just down to road, to Bramhall on the other side of Stockport. With a bigger kitchen and a better oven, they’re hoping their 2016 bakes will be even tastier!

The menu has developed over the past few months. They now sell lots more slices of cake than when they first started. “Levy people love their cakes!” Clare laughs. They have some lovely Levy regulars now, including a discerning ten year old (who won’t entertain the idea of carrots in cake) and Betty, who makes her family wheel her chair over to their stall to get her lemon drizzle fix. With a traditional selection of cakes and flapjacks, most have fruit or vegetables in the recipe, which “makes them practically one of your five a day,” says Clare.

You can find Lemon Drizzle Tea & Cakes at Levenshulme Market every month, keep an eye on the trader lists posted each Sunday for details of trading dates. You can also visit the Lemon Drizzle Facebook page, follow @LemonDrizzleHM on Twitter and read Clare’s blog.

Be first to comment