What do you get when you combine the high-quality oak and exquisite patisseries? It might sound like the opening to a bad joke, but in this case, you get the latest addition to Harrogate's cafe scene, The Pudding Lab – as seen on Channel 4's Bake Off: The Professionals.
From one spa town to another
The Pudding Lab’s cafe in Harrogate recently opened on Cold Bath Road. Well known for its trendy artisan shops, bars and eateries, the beautifully-crafted patisseries and fine coffee are right at home.
Kian and Ashley opened their first cafe in Boston Spa in 2022 and quickly made an impression. Their delightful range of natural, seasonal flavours coupled with precision and artistic flair make for a simply irresistible product.
The popularity of The Pudding Lab soon grew and caught the attention of Channel 4’s hit show, Bake Off: The Professionals. The Pudding Lab team were invited participate in the competition, which aired July 2024.
With family ties in the area, Harrogate seemed an obvious choice for a new venture, and as with any new business, design and decor was a crucial consideration.
We were only too happy to help with the project – we specified and supplied high-grade oak for internal cladding, to create feature walls and the display counter.
Italian oak internal cladding: a naturally-stunning, contemporary-yet-timeless choice
It was decided that European oak – more specifically, Italian oak – was the timber of choice. The tone had to be super light, with a soft grain pattern. A clear-grade timber, free of knots and natural defects, was also key. An ‘alto’ order to fill, you might think, but not for us!
When sourcing our timber, we rigorously search far and wide, building reliable relationships with mills and shippers from around the world that deliver consistent quality. For this specification, we had the perfect stock – Gorgio Marin super prime Italian oak.
Gorgio Marin are the Ferrari of fine wood exporters. Incredible diligence and a commitment to excellence underpins their success and enviable reputation in the industry – from selection of the logs to the pre-drying and kilning process to their strict, unique grading system.
We are proud to be one of the very few that stock this oak in the UK and proud to be a part of this collaboration with a local business that prides itself on the same quality values.
The wood was machined by us to a shadow gap cladding profile. This provides a gorgeous architectural touch, with shadow lines creating a pleasing linear pattern as light falls across the space. A stunning feature wall – and the icing on the cake for Pudding Lab's new location!
