Two years ago (August 3, 2023) this weekend Sarah Bald took a massive step and opened her first Sweet Bella’s cake shop in the Capital.
The bakery, claimed to be Britain’s smallest, has been such a success that she is planning to open another, slightly bigger this time.
She quips the current bakery is the size of a wardrobe and there is no cooking on-site, that is done elsewhere.
But her produce turns heads of shoppers passing by at 38 St Johns Road, Corstorphine. It’s the wee shop with the yellow door.
Her story of turning a hobby and passion into a career went down a treat, just like her samples, at the Edinburgh Foodies Festival in Inverleith Park from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3 (inclusive).
Sarah told the audience that she was taught to bake from an early age by her grandmother and she declared: “I would not be where I am with my business if it wasn’t for her.”
Grandma sat proudly in the front row of the audience during a demonstration by Sarah and the baker revealed that the business was founded in 2019 after she graduated from university with a psychology degree.
Sarah had baked for family and friends throughout her studies but said: “I built up the courage to start my own business.”
She is busy and the samples produced for the Festival were created in the wee small hours before her presentation and Sarah confirmed: “All my baking is made using the best quality ingredients. I also make sure that every element is made from scratch.”
Cakes, cupcakes, wedding cakes, cheesecake, traybakes and cookies, plus buttercream, jam, caramel, puree’s and more are produced by the baker and traybakes can be posted anywhere in Britain.
Gluten free and vegan options are available and the shop is open on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Sarah added: “Cake has no limits so I am happy to work with whatever ideas or flavours customers have in mind.”
TASTY BITE: Sarah tucks into one of her creations. Other pictures, also by Nigel Duncan, are of Sarah on stage at the Festival and of attendees enjoying the sunshine in Inverleith Park
