Baker to bring delicious cakes to Southsea with her new French patisserie

Her cake and patisserie shop, The Pastry Corner, is set to open in Grove Road South in December.

Alexandra has called upon Winchester architecture company Radley House and Portsmouth design duo 2 Sisters to help her create a beautiful bakery.

She said: 'We’re going for a French patisserie theme. I want to make it feel like you’re walking into one of those shops in Paris, where you have all the beautiful wedding cakes on display.

'We’ve also got an open-plan concept. We’ll have the kitchen open so when people are coming in they can see the chef making all the celebration and wedding cakes in the background, and they’ll also get all the lovely smells coming through the front of the shop.'

Like many other businesses this year, Alexandra had to adapt to Covid-19 restrictions and shut her unit down in Netley in April. However this has allowed her to focus on her Southsea plans, arranging photographers, working on business development, rebranding her website and sending boxed afternoon teas to customers' houses.

Alexandra, of Nelson Road, Southsea, is confident that her patisserie will offer Portsmouth something that can't be found locally.

She said: 'There isn’t anyone doing the proper French patisserie. Having all the beautiful filled éclairs, macaroons and all the beautiful colours, which you can’t get anywhere local to us.'

Proud of the quality ingredients she uses in her baking, from free-range eggs, 100 per cent butter and Belgian chocolate, the 28-year-old will also be serving a range of custom celebration and wedding cakes, as well as afternoon tea, grazing boards, picnic hampers, cheese cake and chocolate mousse.

Alexandra, who studied patisserie and confectionery at Highbury College, said she is delighted to opening close to home.

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He career has seen her work at Michelin-starred restaurant L'Ortolan in Reading, and then later with wedding designer, Le Papillon.

She plans on having the front of her patisserie for customers buying pastry, filling the counter with various sweet treats, as well as a coffee machine to offer fresh coffees, lattes and hot chocolates.

She said: 'I'm really excited. I can't believe it's happening. It's been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, baking with my grandma and mum, and now I have my own shop!'

The Pastry Corner, Southsea, will open on Friday, December 4, in the unit formerly occupied by shoe designer Freya Rose. For further updates, visit @pastrycorneruk on Facebook.

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