Business Details
17 Years
experience
Luxurious Bespoke Wedding & Celebration Cakes in Cheltenham
Established in 2009, Vanilla Pod Bakery is a Cotswold-based artisan bakery specialising in handcrafted wedding cakes, celebration cakes, and bespoke baking experiences. Founded by Pia Cato, our business combines a passion for quality ingredients with a commitment to creating memorable edible art. We use locally sourced free-range eggs, Cotswold flour, and Madagascan vanilla to produce custom-designed cakes tailored to each client's vision. Our team offers a fully personalised service, including design consultations, home-delivered tasting boxes, and on-site wedding cake setup.With a focus on relaxed elegance, we serve clients across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and beyond while maintaining strict adherence to food safety and hygiene standards. Our portfolio includes collaborations with prestigious venues like Ellenborough Park and The Slaughters Manor, and we've been featured in publications such as OK! and Hello. Through our cake workshops and parties, we also share our baking expertise with enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Services
Wedding cakes
Birthday cakes
Cupcakes
Cake experiences
Postal tasting boxes
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We have over 15 years of experience creating bespoke cakes for special occasions
- Our team offers fully customised cake design consultations with expert guidance
- We use premium local ingredients including Cotswold flour and Madagascan vanilla
- We deliver and set up wedding cakes at venues across the Cotswolds and beyond
- We accommodate dietary requirements with gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options
Services
Wedding cakes
We create custom-designed wedding cakes tailored to your theme and preferences. Our expert team offers design consultations, sample tastings, and venue coordination. Each cake is handcrafted using premium ingredients and decorated to your specifications. Available in various sizes and styles from semi-naked to fully iced designs.
Cake experiences
Our interactive cake decorating workshops cater to groups of 8-20 participants. Learn professional techniques in a fun environment with expert guidance. Ideal for hen parties, corporate team-building, or special celebrations. All attendees take home their decorated creations in professional packaging.
Postal tasting boxes
Order curated cake tasting boxes delivered directly to your door. Choose from 4-12 sample portions featuring our signature flavours. Perfect for wedding planning or enjoying premium baked goods at home. Boxes available in standard and vegan options.
Celebration cakes
Custom celebration cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and special events. Available in multiple tiers and dietary-adapted versions. Our team works closely with clients to create unique designs matching event themes and personal preferences.
Cupcake collections
Assorted cupcake selections for events and parties. Available in regular and mini sizes with various flavour combinations. Perfect for weddings, corporate events, or casual gatherings. Customisable with themed decorations and dietary adaptations.
People
Pia Cato
Founder & Owner
Pia established Vanilla Pod Bakery in 2009 after winning a university business competition. With over 15 years' experience in artisan baking, she specialises in creating bespoke wedding cakes and leading cake workshops. Her expertise in combining traditional techniques with modern design has earned the business recognition in major wedding publications.
Questions
How can I book a wedding cake consultation?
Contact us through our website to schedule a complimentary phone consultation with Pia Cato.
Do you offer cake tastings before ordering?
Yes, we provide postal cake tasting boxes with 4-12 sample slices available for delivery.
What areas do you deliver to?
We deliver wedding cakes throughout Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, and surrounding counties.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Yes, we offer gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free cake options for all our products.
What is your wedding cake pricing structure?
Wedding cakes start at £5.00 per portion, with average investments between £600-£1,500.
Do you provide cake stands for hire?
Yes, we offer a selection of decorative cake stands available for hire with your order.
Reviews (5)
Sara Adams
Jan 08, 2022
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Great communication, lovely looking cakes, unfortunately I didnt try one as they were sent to my dogs daycare (for the humans) for his birthday celebrations! Love supporting local companies and appreciated the option to have the cakes delivered locally, very convenient.
Shapali Khatun
Nov 18, 2021
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Pia and the team were absolutely amazing! They were always at end of the phone if we needed any changes. kept us posted at all times and updated us with everything. Sent us pictures through out the process. They well and truly put our mind at ease through this journey. The cake was visually stunning and delicious to eat!! To the point we've frozen some!!
Shapali and Liam
Shapali and Liam
Amy Spink
Oct 31, 2021
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Pia and the Vanilla Pod team were outstanding throughout our wedding planning, Pia had so many suggestions and creative ideas, and was able of pull off a wonderful cake that reflected us as a couple, with… handmade items, a work of art! The cake was incredible, the salted caramel tier being a huge hit! We 100% recommend Vanilla Pod!
Becky Frazer
Oct 10, 2021
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We had an absolutely phenomenal experience with Vanilla Pod Bakery. Pia is a true baking expert and gave us fabulous advice and was very informative throughout our booking and planning process. The taste boxes are a great way to decide on your flavours (and I'm sure we will re-order to remind us of the special occasion in the future!). Set up was on time and precise, the cake looked absolutely incredible and everything we hoped it could be. thank you so much to all of the team! We loved the variety of options that came from Vanilla Pod, and felt confident that Pia and team would be able to make
Fliss Baker
Oct 08, 2021
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I cannot put into words how outstanding the service was from Vanilla Pod Bakery. From approaching them with an initial idea, Pia was so warm and enthusiastic and her creativity along with her team helped to visualise my amazing wedding cupcake display. Not only did all the cakes look stunning, they all tasted amazing - everyone thought it was a total show stopper! From start to finish everyone at Vanilla Pod Bakery was friendly, kind and supportive and were a pleasure to deal with at every point of the organising. It's so refreshing to find such passion in a business - led by Pia - and people who
