Urmston baker is top cake maker 25 years on from first win

Elaine Hamey opened Elaine’s Creative Cakes 13 years ago, and she creates custom cakes for any celebration from her Old Crofts Bank shop.

This is the fourth time Elaine has won the award and has been a finalist 10 times, first picking up the trophy 25 years ago.

Elaine said: “It was a really special moment. After 25 years I’m still at the top.”

Bakers all over the country are invited to apply, applicants are then shortlisted and design a cake based on a theme which will be judged by a panel in London – with this year’s theme being nature.

Elaine Hamey's award winning cake (Image: British Baker)

The decorations on Elaine's award-winning cake were made and moulded by hand in the evenings after work for four weeks as a passion project by Elaine with the support of her husband.

It took a staggering 97 hours to produce the cake, with decorations all completed using sugar.

A close up of a handmade bird on the cake (Image: Elaine's Creative Cakes Facebook)

She said: “I am really proud of it. The Indiana Jones one from last year was pretty epic though!”

The Urmston baker is passionate about keeping independent high street businesses open, in a time where new online businesses and constantly changing trends are creating challenging times for the industry.

The event is considered the most prestigious award in the baking world.

Elaine Hamey receiving her award (Image: British Baker)

Household names such as Marks and Spencer and Ocado have won awards in the past but the ceremony also shines a light on smaller independent businesses.

Before setting up her own business, Elaine taught cake decorating in colleges across Manchester –having a big impact on the area and following in the footsteps of her mother who also taught the craft.

She said: “We’ve both taught thousands. I just started it as a hobby, but my mum inspired me to become a baker.”

Elaine's Creative Cakes has been in Urmston for 13 years (Image: Google Maps)

Elaine is still learning as she shares new techniques and trends to keep up with and challenge herself to try new methods of decorating.

When asked if she had any advice for young bakers, she said: “You have to work really hard at it and learn as much as you can. It isn’t easy being a cake decorator.

“Learn real technique of decorating because the trends will change and traditions will come round again, so learn the basics and learn them well.”