About Paul

How did I come to have such an interest in icing cakes?

In 1979 I started work as an apprentice chef, and went on to specialise in the pastry section where all the cakes and sweet things are produced.

After I made a cakes for my daughters birthday parties, I was often asked to help out with party cakes for friends and family, and this eventually expanded to wedding cakes, christening cakes, anniversary cakes in all shapes and sizes!

To improve my skills I attended classes in cake decorating, and particularly in the making of flowers. I joined the Sugarcraft Guild in 1999.

During my working years as a chef, I worked in the kitchens at Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of London, rising to Second Chef. I had the pleasure of making creating for one of the special dinners a cake which was a scale model of Mansion House 3ft long 1ft wide and 1.5 ft high – with plenty of people around to let me know if I had got anything wrong! And also the very special honour of making a wedding cake with a difference for one of the Lord Mayor’s daughters. Read on below for the full details.

I have in the last few years been training in many cake decorating skills, so that I have the experience to create bespoke cakes for every occasion.

I am now able to offer the service via this website, and we can work together to produce your dream cake. Please review the pictures of cakes that you will find on this site, I can copy a cake I have already made, or change it to suit your preferences. If you don’t see what you want, contact me, and we can discuss what you would like.

Paul Moncrieff

A wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's Daughter

For 14 years I worked as second chef at the home of the Lord Mayor of London - Mansion House. During my time there, one Lord Mayor had a daughter who was to be married and the wedding reception was to be at the Mansion House. I was honoured to be asked to create a very special wedding cake.

The Lord Mayor's daughter had spent some time sailing all over the world with her future husband. The happy couple thought that it would be a wonderful idea to have the wedding cake in the shape of the yacht in which they had spent so many happy days.

The cake took many weeks to make and ice, and it had to be an exact replica of the happy couple’s boat in every respect. I hope you will agree with the bride and groom, the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and all their guests, all the time and effort was worthwhile.

A wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's DaughterA wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's DaughterA wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's DaughterA wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's DaughterA wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's DaughterA wedding Cake for a Lord Mayor's Daughter

The icing of the wedding cake

  1. Hand made flags made out of icing.
  2. The boat has been shaped, the painting of the decks commences, the mast is in place.
  3. The wedding cake is moved to the Salon at Mansion House, and the first flag is put in place.
  4. The first complete run of flags.
  5. All finished on the evening before the big day.
  6. The bridge and groom cut into the cake, and within half an hour it has all gone.

I am often asked, was it fruit cake or sponge – well it was neither, it was chocolate tray cake, a customer with very individual taste!