North Park Care Centre takes home Christmas cake title

North Park Care Centre in Darlington, part of Barchester Healthcare, took home the title for Barchester’s North Division in the annual contest.

Led by head chef Annie, the hospitality team created a festive cake designed as a Christmas fire place.

The cake consists of a delicious homemade Fruit Christmas Cake.

Lisa Frame, senior general manager at North Park Care Centre, said: “The team had such a brilliant time taking part in this competition, it has been such fun.

“Our chefs are such talented bakers and everyone here loves cake so we were all very excited to take part.

“It has been a real process for Annie – refining the recipe and trying different versions of the design.

“The residents have loved eating all the previous versions until she came up with the perfect winning design.

“It really has been no hardship.”

The competition is run by the central hospitality team.

Many of Barchester’s chefs are trained in patisserie and the Christmas cake designs are very elaborate and highly technical.

Annie came up with the idea as she felt that it embodied a ‘cosy warm evening around the fireplace.

North Park Care Centre offers residential care, Dementia Residential care and respite care, and is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals.