South Shields star baker 'inundated' with orders for afternoon tea deliveries on VE Day
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Dee Clayton - head baker at the Cake Witchery in South Shields - is best known as the former owner of Westoe Crown café Mac ‘n’ Alli, which she ran for six and a half years.After initially retiring, the businesswoman started her new venture in 2019 at the Little Cafe in Haven Court.
But due to the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown restrictions, Dee has had to close the cafe for the foreseeable future.
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Hide AdInstead, she has been delivering her famous afternoon teas to people’s doorsteps – complete with handmade stand – and she says she can hardly keep up with the demand.
After Dee started making cakes for her colleagues and NHS staff at the hospital word got out and now everyone wants a slice of her delicious homemade bakes.
“I really miss the social side of things at the cafe,” said Dee, who took over the Little Cafe in November 2019.
“I love seeing everybody come and going but we had to make the decision to close.
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Hide Ad“For a couple of weeks I was just making cakes and delivering them to friends and colleagues - to say thank you to them – and then I started getting enquiries.
“The response has been fantastic - I’m baking 24/7.”
On VE Day on Friday, May 8, she says she was “inundated” with orders from people wanting to celebrate the 75th anniversary at home.
“I’m a one-man-band, baking and delivering orders at the same time, so I usually have to limit it to around 15 orders day - but on VE Day we did around 25, said Dee.
“I thought I might as well go all out, so I got dressed up and it was lovely to see everybody on their doorsteps.
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Hide Ad“People just wanted to celebrate, there was a real sense of patriotism and community.”
She added: “Everyone is so grateful, it’s making a big difference to them and to me.
“I’m just happy to help lockdown just a little more bearable.”
Delivery is available in South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn, Washington and Sunderland.
Order at the Cake Witchery on Facebook.