It's the little known cake outlet shop that fans really, really want to keep a secret. But with rows and rows of Colin the Caterpillar cakes, Victoria sponges, mini rolls, flapjacks and other eye-popping sweet treats at bargain basement prices, it's just too good not to share.
Having heard whispers about this place on social media, we headed down to Park Cakes' Oldham Company Shop to investigate the dessert treasure trove for ourselves. And wow, were we blown away.
The outlet shop is found down a narrow side street in Oldham, behind barbed wire fences, up some steps, and past some signs saying "strictly no under 17s allowed". The smell of sweet, fresh-baked cakes from the long-established Park Cakes Factory next door should be enough to lead your nose there.
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The long-established cake factory (founded in 1937 no less) is famous for baking products for the likes of M&S, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Aldi. But while the factory is well known in the local area, many further afield may not know it has an outlet store, which is open to the general public.
And it seems some would rather keep it that way. I knew it must be good when I saw one of the first reviews on Google which said: "Please move on, nothing to see here. The first rule about Park Cakes outlet shop is that you don't talk about Park Cakes outlet shop".
Having been inside its intoxicating grip, I now understand why people want to keep this place a secret, and also why kids are banned. Because walking into this place will seriously get your eyes popping out of your head and tongue lolling like a cartoon cat. I mean, I'm 45, but I was literally like a kid in a sweet shop.
There are just bags upon bags of cakey off-cuts for sale here. It's all the stuff that hasn't quite made the grade inside the factory - thus why it is sold on to cake lovers at really cheap prices.
As soon as you walk in you're greeted by pallets full of swiss rolls - you can get FOUR for £1. Move along and there's crates packed full with GIANT (and I do mean giant) bag of mis-shaped caramel crispy bites, or chocolate mini rolls for just £2 - the same sort of thing you would pay £3.20 for per pot in M&S.
If you don't mind your Colin the Caterpillar with his bottom slightly hanging off then you can get a full sized cake for just £1.50. The pristine boxed-up M&S version retails at £8.
There's also a big bag filled with just Colin big white chocolate cheery faces with slight mis-coloured eyes or noses for £1. In M&S you pay £1 for just ONE of these - that is in its perfect form of course.
Then there's the millionaire's shortbread, rocky road bites or cookie dough bites that you can get for 70p a pot. Again, these sort of things retail in supermarkets for three or four times that price.
There's even a fridge at the back of the shop where I watch as a man from the neighbouring factory stacks up a load of slightly wonky cream cake vanilla sponges - and 4-packs of custard tarts that look pretty damn near perfect to me.
It feels like I've stumbled into pudding paradise - I mean for anyone planning a party this place is just the dream. You can get massive birthday cakes for £5, or smaller star cakes for just £2.
Yes, they're a little wonky but once candles are stuck in the top you'd never know the difference.
The same goes for Colin the Caterpillar. Ok, so maybe you'd have to do some clever sticking back of his bottom for the presentation to a child, or maybe add a few sweets around the severed area. But, I mean, he's got all his legs intact and his face is smiling so what's not to love?
And having purchased one of these dismembered Colins, I can confirm he tastes just as good as the fully boxed £8 version - in fact he probably tasted better knowing I only paid £1.50 for him.
There are seasonal products to look out for too. Of course with Halloween on the way the factory has clearly been churning out lots of spooky-themed products, and on my visit this week you could pick up a HUGE 20-portion trick or treat "spooky loaf" cake.
It comes complete with white chocolate maggots and orange drizzle for what seems a really good price at £5. Needless to say shoppers were going nuts for it while I was there. There's just so much on offer here that's good for things like trick or treat, or for parties where you need to buy in bulk.
And Christmassy treats are also making their way onto the shelves. On the shelves there was already a number of iced fruited Christmas cake slabs for a bargain £1, next to huge bags of sultana and cherry cake slices for £2.
I asked the lady at the counter if she knew when more Christmassy stuff would be coming in and she shook her head. "We never know what we're going to get. Every day is a lottery," she smiled.
I also asked who they make all the cakes for but she said: "I'm not allowed to say". However on the official Park Cakes website there's a list of their customers which includes Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Coles, Loblaws and Metro.
While it's easy to get carried away with just how cheap all of the stuff is, people do need to exercise a bit of common sense and not be greedy with what they take.
And there's a big sign at the front of the store reminding people that "Goods purchased in the cake shop are for personal use only and must not be re-sold or offered for sale under any circumstances."
As I was heading into the office after my visit I did pick up a selection to share with my colleagues. For £8 I picked up this raft of goodies, including the Colin cake for £1.50, two of the mega-bags of crispy caramel off-cuts and milk chocolate mini-rolls.
I couldn't resist a bag of Colin faces, as well as the fresh cream Victoria Sponge which was utterly delicious. I also bought a tub of cookie dough bites for 70p, and this was the only treat in my selection that I was not that keen on.
Maybe it was all the sugar, but I felt pretty damn giddy after exploring this little hidden away gem. I kind of don't want to tell you about it, but having had such a great experience there, it also felt kind of rude not to. Just don't go crazy and make sure you leave some cake bags for me, yeah?
Park Cakes Company Shop, Beehive Street, Oldham, OL8 2NB, is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. It is CLOSED on Sundays.
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