While it takes some people decades to discover where their dream career lies, Keira Roe had a plan at the age of five when she announced to her parents that she was going to be a chef. By secondary school she’d narrowed it down to pastry chef and by 16 she’d bravely left home to enrol at Birmingham’s College of Cakes, officially known as the University College Birmingham.
The Career Begins
Swapping a village of around fifty people in the glorious Yorkshire Dales for one million people in inner city Brum, Keira showed determination and laser focus as she pursued her dreams.
“I’m from a big farming family who love to bake so there were always fresh homemade cakes and treats floating around when I was a toddler,” says Kiera. “I was hooked from an early age and I’m lucky that patisserie has been my sole passion ever since.”
Qualified Pastry Chef
Qualifying with honours from the College of Cakes, Keira then worked as a pastry chef in luxury hotels, fine dining venues and Selfridges before she started to hanker for a bakery of her own. Joining forces with her mum Patricia, who had experience in bookkeeping and running hotels, the hunt for suitable business premises began in 2018.
Based on Chesterton Fields Farm near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, The Pinwheel Patisserie is a one-stop-shop suppling cafés, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and event catering companies across the midlands.
Pastry Selection
“Our huge selection, which is a 50-50 split between the traditional classics and our own bespoke creations, is definitely a unique selling point. We change the menu twice a year, but we have continuous weekly and monthly specials, depending on the seasons, special occasions or what has influenced us that week.”
Recipe
View the full Gingerbread Caramel Shortbread recipe from Keira Roe