My Local Life… Kelly’s Kitchen
This month we chatted to Kelly from Kelly’s Kitchen based in Royston. Kelly makes Wedding Cakes, Celebration Cakes, Cupcakes and Treats. She also supplies Kooky Nohmad with cupcakes at the weekends and Heart to Earth with Vegan Brownies.
I absolutely love our local town. Prior to cakes, I worked locally for C4B Media in Royston working with many local organisations and helping with town centre events.
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Royston and have done all my life apart from leaving for university in Leicester and later a few years in London. Royston is like a magnet though, it pulled me back!
What’s your favourite local place to eat?
So many it is hard to list them but I will try:
– Days the Bakers for picnic in the park
– Kooky Nohmad for lunch meetings
– Banyers House for date night with the hubby
– The Old Bull for a mouth-watering burger and chunky chips!
Your favourite local Shop?
Got to be Ladds! The ladies that work there have become amazing friends of mine, we work together and collaborate often and I’m always in there grabbing cake supplies. They also supplied pick and mix bags for my wedding favours as I remember fondly going in as a child with my mum for a treat.
Tell us about how you’ve coped and adapted during lockdown.
2020 should have been my first whole Wedding season filled with cakes however all but one was postponed. I had just taken the leap to doing cakes full time, so I had to adapt the business quickly. I offered Lockdown Treat Boxes and cocktail cupcakes and branched into postal goodies too. Myself and my children also ran weekly bakealongs on Facebook too which we really enjoyed.
It is because of the amazing local support that I’ve been able to expand the business and convert my garage into my new cake studio too. It is kitted out with beautiful items from fellow local businesses, and I just love baking in there so much.
Thank you so much to my lovely local customers for your continued support.
What is your favourite film?
I adore all things Disney, I particularly love Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast as well as the soundtracks. I’m so pleased my daughter loves them too as now I get to watch them all over again.
What do you love about your work?
So much! I love that I get to contribute to a special occasion. I try and find out as much as I can about the recipient so I can design a cake bespoke to them. All of my designs are original and I will never make the same cake twice. Some of the briefs I receive from customers about their loved ones are so heart-warming. My favourite cakes to make are anniversary cakes, as I often base them on details from the original wedding.
When I had a stall on Royston Market, I loved meeting and chatting to everyone too, I do miss pop up stalls and events and can’t wait to get back to that hopefully in the not too far distant future.
What is your most valued possession?
Recently a very special friend of mine hand made my logo out of paper quill. It was such a thoughtful and special gift made with so much care. I think the best gifts are handmade.
Which four people you would invite to dinner?
Mary Berry, Dawn French, Nigella Lawson and Clive from Days the Bakers!
What inspirational quote sums you up?
If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.
