Nairn food and drink festival Taste of Nairn calls for amateur bakers to take part in Bake Off-style Showstopper Cake Competition

Amateur bakers are being encouraged to get their pinnies on and take part in a Bake Off-style cake competition as part of a Nairn food and drink festival.

The Showstopper Cake Contest will be staged at Taste of Nairn for the fourth time as the event returns in May.

Competition sponsors, local bakery Makes by Megs, announced ‘Scotland’ to be the theme for this year and are keen to see many bakers taking part.

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Nicola Mackinlay, who co-owns the bakery with business partner Megan Mclean, said: “We are delighted to be part of the Taste of Nairn event again and to continue our support of this fun cake competition.

“Clearly, Megan and I are passionate about cake and all things baked, and we hope that the competition will inspire people to get creative and have a go. Anyone can take part, it is supposed to be about having fun.”

She added: “This year we have broadened out the theme a bit. One year, there was a royal theme as the event fell in the year of the Queen’s Jubilee. There were some fantastic entries — including a corgi. We have also naturally had a ‘Nairn’ theme, but this year, we have widened it out to the whole of Scotland, which we hope will give people more scope.

“There is an adults’ and junior’s category, and really anyone can take part. There are a few parameters though including that the cake must be a single tier cake although there is no restriction on quantity of sponges used, everything on the cake has to be edible, it must be 8” in diameter and entrants have to submit a list of named allergens.”

Last year’s adult winner was Emma Willet – the “Crazy Cake Lady” from Kinloss with her stunning bandstand design, whilst winner of the junior category was Suzi Mapes, a pupil from Nairn Academy. Her cake was inspired by Nairn ice cream outlet James’s At The Putting Green.

The cakes will be judged on taste/flavour, texture, creativity and innovation and this year, Nicola and Megan will be joined in the judging by local digital creator Ailsa Gardiner, who is a regular at Makes By Megs.

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Taste of Nairn is now in its fifth year and will run from May 9-11. It incorporates two markets, demonstrations, tastings, and a number of individual events around the town.

Lucy Harding, manager of Nairn BID, the organisation behind the event said: “We are delighted to have retained Makes by Megs as a sponsor and we thank them for their continued support. We love this element of Taste of Nairn and we really look forward to seeing the cakes and of course trying them.”

The title sponsor of Taste of Nairn is the Golf View Hotel and Spa and the Taste of Nairn planners are currently working on finalising the programme.

“Each year we make tweaks to the event programme to make sure it is fresh and offers something new,” Lucy explained.

The programme is coming together really well, and over the three days there will be something for everyone, of all ages to enjoy. Nairn has a fantastic food and drink offering; wonderful bistros and restaurants, takeaways, ice cream shops and of course the bespoke food and drink shops we have on our High Street. We are so proud of our food and drink outlets. Taste of Nairn is a brilliant platform to be able to shout about that.”

All of the Showstopper Cake entries will be on display at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre on Saturday, May 10 where a food and drink market including demonstrations and tasters is being held.

The winner who will take home a trophy and a ‘showstopper’ apron amongst other prizes will be announced that day.

You can find out rules and enter via this link.

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