Farewell to Sheila’s Cakes in Grantham this Christmas Eve

A well-known Granthamian is shutting her cake-making and baking accessories business, with the shop’s last day this Christmas Eve.

Sheila Rimmington, 61, has had to make the difficult decision to close Sheila’s Cakes on Welby Street, due to ill health.

After deciding to turn her life-long love of making cakes into a career, Sheila started the business from scratch by opening a stall in Grantham Market 15 and a half years ago.

A year later she opened her first shop in Welby Street, before moving to the opposite side of the road into the premises which has borne her name for 13 years.

As well as being a proud independent businessowner, Sheila’s cake-making talents are largely self-taught, including her favourite skill of creating sugarcraft flowers. Eager to ensure she could offer the best cakes to her customers, she also enrolled in a course with Grantham College.

Asked what the best bit of her job has been, Sheila said: “Meeting people, and seeing their faces when they see the cakes,” she said.

“I can’t make them any more though because of my health. And running a business is tough. I used to work until three or four in the morning and then start again at 8am, and I did that for eight years,” she said. Looking forward to her well-earned break, Sheila is also thinking about taking up some classes so that she will still have an outlet for her creativity.

December 24 will be the last day of trading for the shop, which is now available to let. Sheila is offering a 30 per cent discount on the majority of products, as well as selling the remaining stock.

She says she is grateful to those who have been loyal customers throughout her years in business, as well as those who have popped in for the odd item, perhaps inspired by the Great British Bake Off.

“I would like to thank all my customers for their support and friendship over the years,” she said.