'Best thing I've done': Here’s how a Leeds mum transformed a small cupboard into an innovative cake business

Take a walk to just outside Fitzroy Drive and you’ll find delightfully delicious treats for sale.

However, this is far from your usual bakery.

The Roundhay Cake Cupboard is one of Leeds’ only honesty cake boxes, a self-service roadside stall where customers can self-select a wide range of baked goods to take home for a donation of their choice.

It’s been less than a year since the business was founded by Lydia East and yet it is already proving popular.

“From the first weekend, people just received it really well which was great.

“People come down and take their kids a lot which is great and they take a lot of pictures with the cupboard.”

Since October, Lydia has run the Roundhay Cake Cupboard alongside her cake supplying business Love Rouge Bakery.

Every Saturday, the cupboard is stocked up with tasty baked goods including cake slices, gingerbread men, and Lydia’s personal favourite cinnamon rolls.

Mum-of-three Lydia first founded The Roundhay Cake Cupboard as a way to help manage the “extortionate” costs of childcare.

She felt that running an honesty cake box was a great way to sell bakes without needing to run a shop.

Though it was initially nerve-wracking to create what Lydia described as a “crazy” idea, The Roundhay Cake Cupboard has quickly become a local favourite.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.,” Lydia said.

“One guy said ‘that was the best mince pie I’d ever had’ and he was looking forward to coming back next Christmas so I could put them back in again and that was so nice to hear.”

For Lydia, though baking has been a lifelong passion, it’s still a great “surprise” to hear this feedback.

Though the reception has been largely positive, The Roundhay Cake Cupboard has also unfortunately experienced several robberies since opening.

Lydia said: “One of the worst times, some boys brought a backpack and they stole all the crates and everything. They had balaclavas on - it was crazy.

“It’s upsetting because it goes against everything that it’s for.”

The robberies have been caught on a camera and shared on the Roundhay Cake Cupboard’s social media pages.

Yet, undeterred by these incidents, Lydia still maintains trust in her customers.

“98% of people are honest and it’s nice to have a bit of faith in people,” Lydia said.

“As the world is difficult at the minute, it’s nice to trust the local residents.”

For Lydia, baking is a lifelong passion and the Roundhay Cake Cupboard enables her to share this with a wider audience.