WINNING Best of 2022 awards is becoming something of a habit for one St Helens business proving that Antonia’s Cakes really does have all the right ingredients for success.
Owner Lauren King took top honours in our search for St Helens Best Independent Shop earlier this year and her loyal customers have ensured she takes home the Best Dessert award as well.
Since we launched our Best of 2022 competition in April, each week, we’ve focused on different categories to find the best that St Helens has to offer with 18 awards for hair, nails, beauty, fitness, gym, children and independent shop being given out as well as fish and chips, pies, pubs, beer garden, café, breakfast, afternoon tea, roast dinners, pizza and burger already decided.
Voting is currently taking place over weekend in the next round of the competition with the award for Best Curry 2022 up for grabs, and the closing date is midnight on Monday, September 5.
Next up we were searching for the town’s best dessert and Antonia’s Cakes took top spot.
In fact, the family-run business not only won the competition but they received more than 500 votes making it the Best of 2022 category with the most votes - it was a landslide victory!
Seven years ago, Lauren, who is mum to Esme and Elijah, decided to put her childhood love of baking in her grandmother’s kitchen to good use and made cakes for family and friends.
The business quickly took off and in March 2020 Lauren was ready to open her shop on Duke Street having spent 18 months working on renovations.
Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, Antonia’s Cakes never managed to open its doors and to remain closed with the same thing happening again in the November lockdown.
Lauren and her partner Craig Scott set up a website and took online orders to sweet treats before finally opening their doors once national restrictions eased.
The 34-year-old said: “We’re over the moon to find out that we’ve won a second award.
“We’re so proud as it’s been voted for by our customers and we owe it to our amazing team who work so hard to create the wonderful cakes, brownies and cookies.
“Our lovely customers have been unbelievable since we first opened two years ago.
“We’ve had so many people coming into the shop saying they’ve bought a copy of the paper or voted online.
“Our returning customers are wonderful and it’s thanks to them that we’ve won Best Independent Shop and Best Dessert 2022.”
Fans of Antonia’s Cakes travel from all over the north west to sample the delicious delights and it’s thanks to their loyal customers that the business has scooped the latest Best of 2022 award.
One happy customer said: “The cakes are unbelievable and the shop is very modern with friendly staff.
“It’s ideal for adding a little something special to a party or get together and I’m in danger of becoming the size of a house as the cakes are that good!”
Lauren and Craig have just got the keys to their second premises on Gerards Park, which will enable them to open a large scale kitchen unit taking wholesale orders and delivering to businesses.
They also have big plans to launch the business nationwide offering deliveries to homes and work places all over the country.
Lauren and Craig will be celebrating winning the second award this weekend.
Anyone popping into Antonia’s Cakes this weekend could be in with the chance of winning some prizes as there will be a spinning wheel today, Saturday, which includes 50 boxed treats and £150 worth of vouchers.
For more details go to facebook.com/antoniascakeshop or antoniascakes.co.uk
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