Tearoom owner has made baking for nearly six decades a piece of cake

Tearoom owner has made baking for nearly six decades a piece of cake

When she was a child Sara Smith used to sit on her mum’s kitchen worktop watching her cook.

The simple pleasure ignited a lifelong passion, leading her to a remarkable journey as the proud baker of more than a quarter-of-a-million slices of homemade cake and scones.

“I used to love watching my mum bake and when I was 17, I began working in a specialist bakery producing celebration cakes,” said Sara.

“It then developed into a small business at home where I would make cakes for birthdays, anniversaries and christenings.

“A few years later I was approached by my neighbours, who own the Pleasure Beach in Great Yarmouth, to take on a café they had, which needed a new lease of life.

“It was a huge challenge and a very steep learning curve. Going from baking at home to running a full tearoom was daunting, but we made it work.”

Sara, now been baking now with joy for almost six decades and has run Sara’s Tearooms for 28 years.

The family business, one of dozens of tearooms scattered along the Golden Mile, has seen Sara become well-known for her homemade cakes and her love of flowers, hanging baskets and seasonal displays outside the cafe, which she spends hours tending to.

“Some customers have been coming to eat my cakes for 25 years and I’ve had children who came in during the early days bringing their own children.

“I keep a log of what I make, and I can say I’ve made a quarter-of-a-million slices of cake and scones over the years, which seems mad.

“My favourite thing to eat is a fruit scone, although I’m also partial to a piece of lemon drizzle,” said Sara.

“I have never sold a cake that we haven’t made ourselves and sometimes I can spend a whole day baking.

“I’m very proud of what I have achieved. I can’t quite believe I’ve baked so many pieces of cakes and scones, but seeing people enjoy what I’ve made – that’s what keeps me going.”