SLICE AS NICE The UK’s oldest British caterer is celebrating its 175th anniversary with the recreation of a royal wedding cake created by its founder, John Searcy, 126 years ago. The caterer has taken a trip back through its archives to the1896 royal wedding of Princess Maud, then the future Queen of Norway, to Prince Carl of Denmark. Considered the society wedding of the year, royal attendees included Queen Victoria, grandmother of the bride, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark. Confectioner and Royal Warrant holder, John Searcy came out of retirement to bake the breathtaking multi-tiered big-day bake. Adorned with sweet treats, the cake included fine sugar work flowers, roses and angels, along with the Royal Arms of England and Denmark. In tribute to its founder, Searcys has recreated the same cake in partnership with baker Elizabeth Solaru of Elisabeth’s Cake Emporium. Working alongside Searcys own pastry chef, Yvonne Graham, the confectioners spent three weeks tirelessly completing the bake to reflect the original design. Five-tiers of Dundee fruit cake are covered with delicate marzipan and white and gold lattice work icing before being toped with carefully crafted sugar work of flowers, fruits, cherubs and lion. The cake will travel across Searcys restaurants throughout the summer, so for your chance to sample a slice of the action head to The Pump Room in Bath (https://thepumproombath.co.uk) from early July to early August. The Princess Maud wedding cake can also be made to order for any wedding celebrations booked at Searcys iconic venues. To find out more check out www.searcys.co.uk RUSTIC PERFECTION Court Farm, a lovingly restored 16th-century farmhouse, is set in ten acres of gardens and grounds in the heart of the Somerset countryside. New to its wedding venue offering is a recently-converted second barn, the Woolshed. A beautiful industrial-chic space, it works brilliantly as a wedding breakfast location with a twist. Suitable for practically anything from a ceilidh to a hog roast, it’s so versatile and the choice is yours. It can seat up to 108 nearest and dearest and is stylishly furnished with trestle tables, antique chairs, floral hoops and rustic lighting. A further exciting addition is the newly-installed luxurious wood-fired hot tub, offering the perfect opportunity to enjoy some R&R the night before W-day. Court Farm can be hired for two nights, including accommodation for 10 to 14 people in the boutique-styled cottages and cow byres. All units face their own private courtyard, which is frequently used for exchanging vows and enjoying cocktails and canapés. The beautifully modernised cottage sleeps four to six, the Cider Barn and Dairy sleeps four to six too, while the Cow Byre sleeps two. To find out more about hosting your big day at Court Farm, check out www.courtfarmstanderwick.co.uk www.gregshingler.co.uk 10
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