A baker in Selsey, West Sussex, is set to reopen a popular garden-based cake shed after facing a series of complaints from neighbours and local authorities. The shed, which operates as a small-scale, honesty-box bakery selling homemade cakes once a week, initially closed last year following a string of grievances and damage caused by storms.

The baker, who has lived in her four-bedroom home for over five years, began running the cake shed in March 2025 after closing a tearoom she had operated on the local high street. The shed, a compact wooden structure painted and decorated with faux flowers, quickly gained popularity, drawing customers from across the region—including some who traveled up to three hours—to purchase brownies, cupcakes, and other baked goods. The business was supplemented by a significant social media following, with the baker posting videos on TikTok that attracted millions of views and generated additional income.

Despite its success, the cake shed became the focus of several anonymous complaints filed with Chichester District Council. Concerns raised included the number of visitors coming to the home, the potential for attracting rats, and allegations that baking was conducted in the garden rather than inside the kitchen. The baker refuted these claims, emphasizing that all baking took place in a professionally maintained kitchen holding a five-star Food Hygiene rating, and that the only visitors entering the house were family and friends.

Council inspections found no evidence to support the complaints, with officials describing the property and garden as clean and well-kept. Despite this, the continued reports created tension between the baker and some neighbours, leading to feelings of suspicion and distress. One neighbour did confront the baker about parking issues, which she sought to mitigate by advising customers to use a nearby residents’ car park.

The cake shed ultimately closed last summer after sustaining damage in storms, coinciding with personal challenges for the baker, including a separation from her husband. Nonetheless, public support from customers and social media followers has encouraged her to reopen the business this summer. She has expressed determination to continue despite any future objections, framing the reopening as a testament to her resilience and the positive community response her venture has garnered.

The baker’s experience highlights both the growing popularity of small-scale, home-based food businesses in the UK and the complex dynamics that can arise between such enterprises and their local communities.