A WOMAN who moved to Powys to set up her baking business but was then side-tracked by the pandemic, has now officially opened up – in a horse box.

Kate Harrop, originally from Manchester, moved to Powys with her family in 2018, as she and her husband wanted to “fulfil their dream” of living in Wales.

Kate’s in-laws had owned a bakery in Manchester for more than half a century, which Kate and her husband took over when they retired due to ill health.

Kate, a cake decorator by trade and who used to own a cake shop, took the business over and transformed into a bespoke cake makers. They ran that successfully for six years, but in 2018 they took the plunge and decided to follow their dreams.

County Times: Kate says she was inspired after she saw a horsebox prosecco bar online. Kate says she was inspired after she saw a horsebox prosecco bar online. (Image: Kate Harrop)

County Times: Kate Harrop moved to Powys with her family in 2018, as she and her husband wanted to “fulfil their dream” of living in Wales. Kate Harrop moved to Powys with her family in 2018, as she and her husband wanted to “fulfil their dream” of living in Wales. (Image: Kate Harrop)

“We decided we wanted to fulfil our dream of moving to beautiful Wales,” said Kate, 39.

“We have 4 children and wanted a better environment for them to grow up.”

Kate was also dreaming of going in another direction with the business. She wanted something unique with a vintage style, and was inspired when she saw a horsebox prosecco bar online.

“I thought that was a genius idea,” said Kate, who has swapped Manchester for living far more remotely, just outside Llangurig.

“We purchased a horsebox within weeks of our move here and my husband converted it. We had a couple of successful events.

“I had always considered a way to bring cakes to people in various locations rather than being confined to just a single base.”

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Now for a name. In a “lightbulb” moment, she came up with Cupkates. The only problem was, Covid-19 then struck and Cupkates’ future didn’t seem so sweet.

Since Covid the couple have also been busy with renovating their house, but Kate says 2024 is “our year”.

“We left the new horsebox in the layby next to our house over lockdown,” Kate said. “Unfortunately, people chose to go to the toilet up it throughout lockdown and it was completely ruined.

“We stripped it back to the bare frame and started again, choosing PVC cladding rather than the original wood, and decided to not leave it in the layby for a single night ever again.”

She added: “We had to take an extended break from cake making due to a complete renovation on our house but this year is our year. And we are so excited.

“We are due to attend more rallies this year, the Rhayader and Llanidloes carnivals and Llangurig Show. We’re also trading in the layby on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday for now.

“We are hoping to expand the business as much as we can and also take on more events throughout Wales in due course.

“We did a rally recently up at the Sweet Lamb complex, which was fantastic.

“We've had great feedback about the trailer and the cakes these last few weeks which has been amazing.”

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Some of that support has come from a YouTuber who stopped at Cupkates and did some filming.

“We have had an amazing response on the trailer so far,” she said.

“Everyone comments on how lovely it looks and the cakes have gone down a treat. The local community support via Facebook has been phenomenal and we feel extremely lucky to have such support.

“A YouTuber called at us by chance last week and filmed the surrounding area and the trailer; he commented on the beauty of the location and that the trailer was an awesome idea and he hadn't seen anything like it.”

To find out more about Cupkates, visit their Facebook page or search @cupkateswales on Instagram. Alternatively, email Kate at kateharrop7@gmail.com.