Meet the owner of The Curious ‘cake’ Cupboard that’s bringing a community together

As a passionate baker Vicky Hesketh’s spent endless hours in the kitchen with her hands full of flour creating the fluffiest sponge or the most delightful lemon drizzle cake.

But now she’s sharing her culinary creations with the people of St Helens, Ormskirk and beyond after opening The Curious Cupboard on her drive stocked full of everyone’s favourite homemade sweet treats.

Not only has it proved to be a roaring success, selling out almost every time it opens, it’s brought people and the community together.

“And that’s one of the loveliest things about it,” says Vicky, 46, who lives on the border of Rainford and Bickerstaffe. “It’s bringing people together and building up a community which is what I wanted to do, and it’s so nice to see.

“It might sound a bit corny, but I’ve had neighbours from just down the road come by, and I didn’t even know what they looked like before. It’s lovely to see people chatting as they stand outside, picking out what they want, and people have even left me little thank you notes!”

She adds: “People say they love my cakes.

“It’s two months since I started this and my Facebook page has already got 1,000 followers. To say I’m surprised with how successful it’s been would be an understatement.  I couldn’t have asked for more than what’s happened.”

After teasing people on social media for a couple of weeks before, Vicky opened The Curious Cupboard on November 2 last year, selling a huge selection of cakes and biscuits.

It’s now open between 11am and 9pm every Friday to Sunday and operates on an honesty box system.  Customers choose what they want and pay for their goodies by cash, bank transfer or card (there are instructions inside the cupboard!).

“I’d seen honesty boxes in the Channel Isles and Scotland when I’d been on holiday and customers love the idea. I grow veg in my garden and I’d thought it would be good, when there was a glut, to sell them from an honesty box on my drive.

“And I realised I could do it with my cakes.”

While she still works full time with her own company, Vicky has been self-employed for more than 20 years with a variety of roles including make-up artist and selling jewellery.  She’s even been a teacher.

But what hasn’t changed is her love of baking.

“I’ve never been trained but it’s in my blood,” explains Vicky. “My grandfather was head baker in Sattherthwaites in Crosby where I’m originally from – I’ve still got his old recipe books which I’m hoping to use – and my gran used to cook for people during the war. She had a huge family and used to foster children, so she was never cooking for less than 10!

“My auntie was head confectioner at Satterthwaites too, doing all their celebration cakes and she taught me icing, piping and sugarcraft; and so baking is just something I’ve done my whole life.

“People have said since I was a teenager that I should do something with it but I always said it was just a hobby.  When I saw the honesty boxes I decided I could give it a go and have fun with it, so we bought a cupboard and ‘Grandad Cupboard’ (my partner Ian’s dad) did it up and fixed it to the wall. 

“I create everything fresh and the cupboard works on a first-come, first-served basis – and that’s part of its charm. There are favourites like Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle cake, and shortbread, but the idea is to include them along with different things for people to try. I’ll be making marmalade and putting that in when the Seville oranges come out, and maybe including some pudding like crumbles as well as savoury bakes this year.

“I put a post on social media when it’s open – if there’s no post, it’s closed – and I have a bit of fun with it, adding my personality and building a relationship with people. I love seeing people come in the evening with their PJs on when they’ve decided to settle down to the telly and want a piece of cake before they do.”

With such success, Vicky agrees that she may soon need a bigger cupboard – and doesn’t rule out expanding the business and seeing where it will take her.

“Who knows? For now, I’m just enjoying what I’m doing and loving every minute of it. It’s exciting and it’s fun – and who knows what will be in The Curious Cupboard next?!”

Find out more about The Curious Cupboard here.

For more on Food & Drink around Liverpool City Region click here.