Edible Art at Cake Britain

The term “kid in a candy shop” is almost appropriate – except that you don’t have to pay for the goodies, and they are the coolest goodies you’ll ever see in your life.

Cake Britain is, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, the first all-edible art exhibition in the world. Yep, you got that right:  All-edible.  The exhibits are made of cake. And icing. And sugar and spice and all things nice. And furthermore, they are actually there to be eaten by you, the adoring public.

Opening at the Future Gallery tonight and running through until Sunday, Cake Britain is based on Mad Artists Tea Party’s interpretation of the meaning of ‘fair’, with proceeds going to Richard House, We Make Peace and the Fairtrade Foundation. Entry is free in exchange for a fair donation to the charities – and the amazing exhibits and yummy nibbles are more than worth that.

In the interests of allowing everyone time to actually see the exhibits before they can be munched out of existence, there will be strictly no eating the art until the end of the run. In the meantime, lovely ladies in crazy hats will sashay around the room with trays of the most amazing cupcakes in the world, of all flavours, colours and toppings. 

Add to this the bowls of Courvoisier punch served, appropriately, in china teacups, and you will feel absolutely fine about abstaining from taking a bite out of the various curiosities displayed around the room. It has been decreed that the big ‘eat-off’, in which the exhibits themselves will finally be devoured, will be happening on Sunday. I’m not sure how easy it will be to demolish such pieces of beauty, but I bet it will taste amazing.

The only trouble, if you’re thinking of swinging by this immensely cool exhibition for a sugar-rush, is the extreme sweetness. The exhibition is open from 10am until 6pm each day so make sure you’ve timed your visit so that it coincides with dessert. Seriously, eat something normal and savoury beforehand. Those cupcakes might well be the greatest thing on the planet, but mere mortals can surely eat no more than two, three at the very, very most, and after swilling it down with sweet punch, you may find yourself feeling a little on the queasy side. This is an exhibition that practically encourages gluttony – and oh, does it feel good.

All in all, this reminded me a little of a trip to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory when I was young. It was amazing and magical. It was beautiful. They gave us chocolate in the queue, chocolate all the way around the place, and then at the end they took all the odd chocolates and let us stuff our faces. It was the best day ever – and then I couldn’t face another chocolate bar for at least a week. Brilliant.

Cake Britain: 10am-6pm August 27 to 29.

Cost: FREE! (but make a fair donation)

The Future Gallery
5 Great Newport Street
Covent Garden
WC2H 7HY

Tel: 020 3301 4727