•   Largest Welsh Cake .. it's a world record !

St Davids Day

World Record for Bala - the largest Welsh Cake in the world


For more information see links below images.

St. David’s Day (2014), or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi in Welsh, was a day of celebration in the town of Bala, North Wales, organised by Bala and Penllyn Tourism Association. The highlight of the day was the World Record attempt of making the largest Welsh Cake in the World!  The consistency of the mix, the rolling to size and then the cooking all came together on the day to meet the criteria of the Guinness Book of Records of a 20kg cake.  The cooked weight was 21.7kg and the diameter was 1.5 metres!  Guinness World Records have confirmed that its a World Record - the largest Welsh Cake in the World was made in Bala.

The town began celebrating on Friday as local businesses competed by decorating the 25 trees lining the High Street in the colours of the Welsh flag. Shop windows were dressed and flags were hung, it was a glorious spectacle. There was a buzz of expectation for the following day, March 1st, to celebrate Dydd Gŵyl Dewi.  The children loved the Circus Workshop, the Magician and the storytelling.  There were smiling faces from adults and children alike as families rushed around the town to see; the world famous Choir ‘Cor Godre’r Aran’, to follow the Tegi Bach Treasure Hunt (the friendly Lake Monster), buy produce from Snowdonia Market and local artisan craft stalls, whilst enjoying an historic Town Trail and having their faces painted en route.  Everyone wearing their daffodils, some wearing Welsh costume, and smiling broadly. 

The cooking of the Welsh Cake drew a huge crowd and there was a rush to buy a piece of the Biggest Welsh Cake in the World.  There were a few tense moments as the team of cooks rolled the cake to the correct depth and then cooked the cake over very hot coals.  The temperature was monitored and the cake was twisted and turned to cook evenly.  Then came the flip and in came the team to lift the metal plates with the 3 stone Welsh Cake in the middle!  There was a roar from the crowd as the flip was successful and a cheer of joy when the top came off and the cake was perfectly browned!  The whole cake, over 200 pieces, sold like hotcakes, including off-cuts and crumbs, within 15 minutes!  Comments included “this is the best welsh cake I’ve ever eaten”.

The day ended with prize giving and the local school children leading the crowd with several well-known Welsh songs.

Mel Williams, the Chair of Bala & Penllyn Tourism Association said “The day exceeded all our expectations.  We launched GoBala.org our new web portal for trails in Bala; we enticed hundreds of people into the town to shop, we created a feel-good factor with fun for all and managed to bake the biggest Welsh cake in the World! Money was raised for; Macmillan, Ty Gobaith, Gobowen, Rotary, and The Urdd. The whole town came together on the day with willing hands to put Bala on the map of the World - you can’t get better than that!”

Bala & Penllyn Tourism Association/Cymdeithas Twristiaeth y Bala a Phenllyn wish to thank sponsors, supporters and partners, including:

• Cyngor Gwynedd Council,
• Cyngor Tref y Bala,
• Grwp Busnes y Bala,
• Bala & Penllyn Rotary Club,
• Ysgol y Berwyn,
• Uned y Gymraeg yn y Gymuned,
• Twf
• Barclays Bank,
• Plas yn Dre Restaurant
• Côr Godre'r Aran
• Royal White Lion Hotel
• Activity North Wales/Get Wet
• Cocoa,
• Cake Crew
• Members of Bala & Penllyn Tourism Association

Welsh Cake sponsors:

• Ysgol y Berwyn: fabrication
• Plas yn Dre Restaurant: venue and refreshments
• J Lloyd and Son: metal work
• Big K Products Ltd: charcoal
• Spel-Gate Industrial: Teflon sheets
• D. H. Jones: mixing bowl and mixer
• Wern Tegid Veterinary Surgery: weighing equipment
• Gwynedd Council Trading Standards: for provision of the calibration weights
• Williams Homes: building materials
• Travis Perkins: building materials
• Benrhos Ltd: temperature measurement equipment
• Minavon Garage: supports for rotation of gridle
• Co op: ingredients for welsh cake
 

Raffle prizes providers:

• Royal White Lion Hotel
• Landcraft 4x4 Ltd
• John Lewis Partnership – Bala Lake Hotel
• Spar
• Tyddyn Llan Restaurant with Rooms
• T. J. Roberts and Son, Butchers Bala
• Otter Woodcraft
• Bryn Tegid Country House
• North Wales Country Fair
• Caerau Uchaf Gardens
• Mel Williams, Encaustician/Artist
• Ray Hind, Canoe Coach
 

The Team

Tourism Association Committee:

  • Chair & Press Spokesperson: Mel Williams (Melikins Video)
  • Secretary & think-tank: Katrina Le Saux,
  • Treasurer, Webmaster, Dogsbody: Ray Hind.

Welsh Cake Team:

  • Peter Cottee: Project Manager
  • Andrew Roberts & Mick Williams: Production Team
  • Lindsay Hind: cooking coordinator
  • Assistants: Tyly Roberts, Mari Davies
  • Video: Dai Lazarus
  • Photogrepher: Hazel Price (Smilebox producer)

Independent Witnesses: Huw Price, Gwyn Evans, Rhys Llwyd Davies


The Winners:

  • Best tree: Siop D E & Y Gwyniad
  • Best shop window: Carpedi Y Bala