Photos by Steve Painter

Katja has lived in Hastings for many years and runs the incredible Katja’s Cakes from her studio at The Yard. We caught up with her (and the very gorgeous Staffordshire Bull Terrier Roxy) to eat cake and chat baking, ceramics, creative inspiration and Yard life!

1. So how did you first get interested in baking?

I was always drawn to cake decorating rather than baking itself. When I first started my business I had a baker handling the cakes, but after being let down I decided to take control and do it myself. I had the privilege of learning alongside the incredible chef Duncan Poyser, who guided me through the process. With his support I even won a Great Taste Award early on!

2. Your cakes are works of art – did you study any creative disciplines alongside your culinary courses?

Creativity has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve studied it extensively. I have a Joint Honours Degree from Camberwell School of Art, I studied at the Arts League in New York, and I hold a Master’s from Brighton University. If I had the chance, I’d do a PhD—I truly believe learning gives you a renewed zest for life! That said, the ceramics studio is teaching me just as much because every project brings new challenges to solve.

3. It must be very hard to pick, but has there been a favourite cake?

One that stands out is a bright yellow cake with a banana on top, which I made to support Cakes for Apes and their brilliant work to save orangutans. Another favourite is a three-tiered silver cake I made for a Marie Antoinette themed birthday party years ago. It’s still one of my all-time greats!

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Katja made the spring-themed cake especially for this issue so, not wanting it to go to waste, we donated it to Hastings Posh Club – a glamorous performance and social club for older people held regularly. Here’s their host, Rachel Spinetti modelling Katja’s cake before it gets devoured
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4. You have generously shared a recipe with our readers; tell us about this recipe!

This one originally comes from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, and it’s absolutely delicious. It’s simple to make, and you can add as much lemon drizzle as you like. Because my cakes are so highly decorated, I like to keep the flavours fairly classic letting the design do the talking.

5. What does a typical day look like for you?

If I’m making cakes, I bake the day before decorating. I set aside time for organising shopping for ingredients, prepping everything, and making the sugar syrup ahead so it’s ready for the buttercream. Since it’s just me running the business I handle every aspect, but I’m lucky to have a very supportive husband who helps with deliveries and has built me several studios over the years!

6. What brought you to Hastings? And how does it compare to New York?

I lived in Stockport for years but one day, after delivering a cake down south, my husband and I took a detour to Hastings. We had fish and chips on the beach at Rock a-Nore and he turned to me and said “I could live here.” That was that! There’s something magical about being by the sea – it feels like you’re on the edge of adventure. Hastings is full of life; people here know how to eat, drink, dance, and celebrate at every opportunity.

St Leonards, in particular, reminds me of London, and having lived in Brooklyn I see similarities there too. There’s this creative energy, a mix of tradition and experimentation. But the biggest thing Hastings and New York have in common? The number of exuberant people you meet. I’m very fond of a bit of eccentricity.

7. We know you for your wonderful baked creations, but you’re also an accomplished potter! Have you always had an interest in ceramics?

I should clarify, I don’t call myself a potter, as I don’t have those particular skills! I’m a ceramic artist. I studied ceramics and metalwork at university, and it’s funny how for years, I used those skills in cake decorating. Now, the tables have turned – I’m using my piping expertise in ceramics.

My husband is also a ceramicist, and at first I found his skill a little intimidating. But over time I realised we bring different strengths to the table, and now we complement each other beautifully. My real passion has always been texture and colour, which translates across different mediums. My Master’s was in textile design, where I experimented with silicone – who knows, that might even make its way into my ceramic work one day! Creativity has always been my driving force.

8. What’s the best bit about working from The Yard?

I absolutely love The Yard! Henry and Lucy have made it possible for me to chase my dreams while running a business, and they’ve fostered such a supportive community. There’s an amazing mix of people – everyone helps each other out, we all get along brilliantly. It really feels like home.

9. Where do you find inspiration for your work, whether that be cake or clay-based?

Nature is a huge inspiration for me. I take a lot from walks with Roxy, just soaking in the environment. My clay work has more of a narrative than my cakes. With cakes, I’m working to a brief, creating something for a celebration. With ceramics, I have the freedom to explore themes that matter to me – some pieces are deeply personal, others political, and some are simply me experimenting with texture and surface.

10. What’s your favourite spot in Hastings?

For breathtaking views, Hastings Country Park is unbeatable – it’s just stunning! If I’m in the mood for culture, Kino is great. And for a drink, No. 40 is my go-to for a sophisticated but friendly atmosphere. That said, The St Leonards has a special place in my heart – we spent a LOT of time there when we first moved.

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If you’re interesting in ordering one of Katja’s amazing creations you can contact her via her website katjascakes.co.uk and make sure you follow @katjascakes on Instagram for some mouthwatering cake content and the odd Roxy update!

Katja’s Cakes, Unit 55, The Yard, Hastings