The Cake and Bake Show - October 2016 - London ExCeL

If you've read my other blog - bizzieizziebakes - you'll know how partial I am to a bit of cake! So for the last couple of years my sister and I have headed over to the ExCeL for the Cake and Bake Show.

It's a fairly small exhibition compared to some I've seen and been too but always a lovely morning/afternoon out. I'd say you could get round the show, bought what you were after and have had lunch within around four hours. 

I love going to get my hands on some new tools, decorations and come away with some inspiration! But being an Events Management student I can't help but critique and evaluate the event mentally while I'm there and that's what I've decided to write about today!

One thing I always notice at events is direction signs and often lack of... I went to V Festival back in the summer and we couldn't find our way out to save our lives! We ended up walking miles down a dark cycle path off to another village outside of Chelmsford. We did spot some stewarding staff who had been left half way down the track in total darkness to guide people but they didn't seem so clued up either - quite shocking from a staff welfare point of view too...

But here's me off on a tangent.. back to the Cake and Bake! Direction was good, you couldn't miss it and queueing in was well managed. But while waiting in the queue for it to open there was one thing that really impressed me - stewards handing out wristbands for parents with children allowing them to write down names and contact numbers if they happen to get lost inside. Very considerate and a nice touch to remember for future events.

Inside the show you will find a huge variety of stalls, from various bakes to take away and eat on the go to sugar craft tools and decorating equipment. The show is great for getting your hands on tools and treats at great prices. Many stands run show promotion offers and if you go on the last day you'll see some big reductions - A lot of stall holders will want to take as little as possible back with them so are more than happy to take your nearest offer on most things... big bonus! 

Alongside the independent businesses big names in the baking world often have their spot in amongst the crowd, for example The Meringue Girls, and are often one of the reasons many people visit. But I still think there's room for more! I don't know whether I missed them but after having seen The Biscuiteers a couple of times in the last month at events trade shows I was quite surprised not to see them at The Cake and Bake. 

Being a fairly small exhibition I think they could easily expand into the next space and get in more stall holders but I imagine there is quite a complex mechanic behind the scenes deciding who gets a spot.

Alongside more stands they could easily grow this and have more demonstrations, more things to do such as cost free mini classes. 

I also visited The Handmade Fayre a couple of weekends back. One stall was heavily promoting a cutting machine and so offering dream catcher making mini sessions. I have to say the whole thing was very fiddly and a bit disastrous. No one gave up but I'm not quite sure they managed to sell many of the machines. My dream catcher did make it home and is still happily hanging in my living room but I shan't be making another one anytime soon...  But nevertheless it was nice to get involved in doing something on the day that didn't come with another ticket fee.

One Final Critique 

For the last two years I've found there hasn't been enough food stands surprisingly! On offer was the standard sandwich and coffee bar and of course there was cake to go stands for miles but in terms of lunch choices you were fairly limited. 

I think the only obvious choices on offer were hot dogs and pulled pork buns but nothing for those with food intolerances or allergies (vegan, vegetarian, gluten intolerant) but I did notice they were allowing individuals to leave the show, eat outside in the food stands and return for more shopping. Which I don't recall happened last year so it's clear the organisers are working on ways to improve the show year on year.

However despite my critique it was a Sunday well spent and no doubt I will be returning next year! 

I came home mid afternoon with my sister feeling very inspired and ready for an afternoon of baking cake and brownies! 

If you're an avid baker too, do get yourself down to the ExCeL next year. We managed to get tickets - 2 for £15 so keep an eye out for those pre show promotions!

Thanks for reading, Izzie x