This is Eric Lanlard's "cake emporium" with an incorporated cookery school. Fitted out to very high specifications and is certainly a high class joint. Eric can be seen in the shop from time to time! (He was there when I went last weekend and he is exactly as you see him on TV). A bit of a trek to get to Battersea Reach, I must admit. One has to want to go there to go there, if you see what I mean.
Visually glorious selection of cakes and some savory options. To be honest, I thought my cake, a pistachio powder dusted fresh cream sponge topped with fresh berries, tasted a bit bland. It was not cheap!
Service was a little amateur but genuinely attentive. All in all, a nice place to spend a while away from the madness that is London.
Merchandising within the shop is interesting. Apart from cakes, gift and skin care items are on offer. Some even displayed in and amongst the cakes displays? (Saw pots of hand cream placed within the cakes display) Not sure if that struck the right note retail strategy-wise. I would have liked to see more cakes/bakewares first because they really excite my senses coming to a specialist patisserie. The gift items are supplemental and need to be merchandised separately and carefully.
Prices for the cookery school are not for the faint hearted!! A half day chocolate course comes in at just under £100 and a full day baking course costs £250. However students get to take the things they make home with them and a lunch is included in the price. read more