Cake Baby announces partnership with The Cornerstone, Crook

Aimee Nixon, who is from Crook, owns Cake Baby and in January, she announced a partnership with The Cornerstone, which was launched by MasterChef star Mike Bartley last year.

Mike is from Bishop Auckland and appeared as a contestant on the BBC show in 2021.

Aimee told The Northern Echo how the partnership came about.

She said: “We first started talking about it just before Christmas. They approached me at my daughter’s school fayre, where I had a cake stall.

“They asked if I had ever done wholesale before and if I would be interested in doing it. I told them I was really interested and it just went from there.”

Aimee in The Cornestone with one of her cakes (Image: AIMEE NIXON)

The mum-of-two took samples down to the restaurant, which were enjoyed by the entire team.

She said: “I was absolutely over the moon about it, their restaurant is amazing and I could not quite believe they wanted to work with me. They have been fantastic and we hope to work together a lot going forward.”

The baker said she was extremely excited when she was approached by The Cornerstone about the partnership.

She said: “When I knew Michael was opening a restaurant in Crook, it was very exciting for the local area. He is a well-known chef and is brilliant at what he does. I was over the moon.

“It is very special too because it is my local town. It is also in the town centre and is a win-win for both of us.”

A Wicked-themed cake (Image: AIMEE NIXON)

Aimee started Cake Baby a few years ago, explaining it was a hobby that turned into a business. She said baking has always been a hobby ever since she was young.

“I loved to bake with my mum and grans as I have always had such a sweet tooth. My gran Beaty taught me a lot when I was young as she is the baker for our very large family, so she was always in the kitchen baking for us all and I just loved to help,” she explained.

“Then the rest I taught myself and I have practiced a lot over the years. I love to bake and try my hand at new things; it is very therapeutic and now I love to bake with my kids as well.”

Aimee’s passion for baking started when she was young as she used to bake with her mum and grans (Image: AIMEE NIXON)

The Cornerstone opened in December 2025 in the former Blu’s cocktail and wine bar on Hope Street. It is open from 9am Tuesday to Saturday and closes at either 9pm, or 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. It will be open 10am until 4pm on Sundays and closed on a Monday.

Aimee spoke about the importance of two independent, Crook-based businesses supporting each other.

She said: “It is really nice to see independent businesses supporting each other, and I think that was one of the main points for us. The Cornerstone is very passionate about supporting local independent businesses, which is why they came to me.

Cake Baby officially opened a few years ago (Image: AIMEE NIXON)

“It is the same for me too, to work with someone who is local and passionate about the same things. It is just really exciting, hopefully it is a really good thing for the local area and it will do well. I am excited about what the future could bring.”

And she teased there could be some exclusive products coming to The Cornerstone.

“If there is anything they want me to do specifically for them, then we will absolutely look at doing some exclusive products,” Aimee said.