Walking down Water Street near Liverpool Town Hall, I spotted a massive queue snaking down a quiet side street. Curious, I took a detour and discovered Victor's Sweet Delights – a bakery, patisserie and gelateria all in one. The newest branch on Covent Garden, in the shadow of the historic Pig and Whistle pub, had opened at 11am on Friday, June 3. Within 10 minutes, the side street was swarming with customers.
I joined the back of the queue and was greeted by owner Victor Guzman. Although this is the first Victor's Sweet Delights in Liverpool city centre, Victor is already familiar to many thanks to his much-loved bakery in Waterloo. The business has built a loyal following on TikTok, where its eye-catching creations have attracted thousands of fans.
From Dominican Republic to Liverpool
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Victor moved to the UK in 2013 with ambitions of starting his own business. At first, taking the leap felt daunting. Now, he has two thriving bakeries. Peering through the window of the 49-year-old's new shop, I was immediately struck by the huge selection of cakes, cruffins and gelato. Most eye-catching were the fruit-shaped cheesecakes that have become TikTok famous.
I chatted to other customers who had turned out in force for the opening. Many greeted Victor with hugs before leaving with boxes piled high with sweet treats. One woman spent well over £50.
Tasting the famous mango cheesecake
Victor recommended a selection of his favourite desserts. I tucked into a mango-shaped cheesecake encased in a red, green and white chocolate shell. Inside was a creamy cheesecake filling with fresh mango and passionfruit sauce. It was delicious: rich without being overly sweet, with the tropical flavours transporting me to a sunny beach rather than beneath Liverpool's grey skies.
I wasn't quite as successful at keeping the bright orange passionfruit sauce off my white jacket, but it was worth every stain.
An emotional opening day
As I waited, Victor became emotional reflecting on everything that had gone into opening the new shop. He spoke about the long hours, the fear of failure and the relief of seeing so many people turn up to support him. Judging by the crowds, I don't think he has anything to worry about. With an impressive range of desserts and a loyal customer base, Victor's Sweet Delights is set to be another success. I'll certainly be back.
