THE GREAT BORO BAKE HAILED HUGE SUCCESS

Professional, amateur and just-for-the-love-of-it bakers converged on Centre Square to present cake designs based on a Middlesbrough building, landmark, or place.

The fifty cakes were then positioned on a giant (edible!) map in Centre Square to be photographed, admired and judged.

The bakers themselves got to choose their favourites in a Bakers Choice Award, with a panel of judges choosing their top five ‘Star Bakers’.

On a beautiful summer’s day hundreds turned out to admire and then devour the cakes that included everything from a chocolate Baker Street to Fairy Dell, and even an amazing Transporter Bridge complete with working parts.

Cake Fest creator Simon Preston said: “This event is all about coming together as a community to bake and share, celebrating this amazing town and the launch of the iconic refurbished Middlesbrough Town Hall.”

“We were so impressed with the amount of time, skill and creativity that the bakers had poured into their amazing cake sculptures and the judges had a very difficult time choosing their favourites.”

Councillor Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, announced the winners.

He said: “I’m so relieved I wasn’t involved in the judging - in my opinion they were all winners.

“We are so appreciative that so many people made the effort to come along and support the event, showing their obvious love and affection for Middlesbrough and indeed the Town Hall.”

Adding to the atmosphere of the event was Back Chat Brass, who have quickly become one of the UK’s leading street bands since bursting onto the scene in 2016.

Covering everything from Beyoncé and Bieber to Hall and Oates, they certainly kept everyone entertained as the culinary map was put together and even ran some brass workshops to give the crowds an opportunity to be more hands-on.

Winners of the event (link to images with captions below) were:

The Bakers Choice Award chosen by participants of Cake Fest:

1^st choice: Zoe’s Place (Baby Hospice) by Lizzy Lawrence

Runner up for Bakers choice: Transporter Bridge by Tees Valley Women’s Centre Cake Class (teacher Tracy Golden)

The Top 5 Star Bakers chosen by a panel of Cake Fest judges were:

1^st: Transporter Bridge (bakers as above)

2^nd: Middlesbrough Central Library baked by Wendy Bentley

3^rd: Baker Street by Olivia McHale

4^th: Zoe’s Place by Lizzy Lawrence

5^th: Fairy Dell by Debbie Peacock and Sandra Lax

ENDS

Press Notice 53XX. XX/07/18

Issued by Nicky Harrison 07824 390826 / 0191 691 1302

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www.middlesbrough.gov.uk | Follow Middlesbrough Council on Twitter: @MbroCouncil

Notes to editors

For images of all winners with their and cakes and captions doc please

click here:

All images credit: John Millard

Video credit: Rachel Grey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjltaJr49pE&feature=youtu.be

Background information

Middlesbrough Town Hall reopened its doors after a 21-month and £7.7m refurbishment funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Middlesbrough Council. The building plays host to a range of entertainments acts including comedians, stars of rock and pop, classical music and more. www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk

Cake Fest was created by Food Innovator Simon Preston who has produced similar events in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Stirling, Preston and as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. He is also presenter of BBC Radio’s Kitchen Café and Food Guru for the popular Festival of Thrift in Kirkleatham, Redcar. www.graceonline.co.uk

CRYSTLSD is an arts, film and culture marketing agency working with clients in the sector to reach new audiences and develop brands, projects and campaigns. Clients and projects range from international artists and exhibitions, feature films, museums, heritage and performers in the UK and Europe. www.crystlsd.com