Councils across the UK are increasingly targeting middle-class mothers who sell homemade brownies and cakes from small decorated sheds in their driveways. Some owners have been instructed to pay up to £1,000 for a licence to keep operating.
These brightly painted sheds, often operating on an honesty box or QR code system, have become a common sight in suburban streets, attracting queues of locals. However, a growing number of local authorities are now enforcing compulsory street trading licences.
Bassetlaw's £1,007 Licence Fee Sparks Outcry
In Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, a group of cake shed owners is campaigning against a council-enforced street trading licence costing £1,007. The district council claims some sheds generate up to £90,000 annually and warns that failure to obtain a licence could result in a £1,000 fine. Enforcement was briefly paused last month, but councillors are set to make a final decision soon.
Natalie Brook, 37, who temporarily shut her cake shed due to the policies, described the upcoming verdict as a 'make or break' moment. 'I find it bizarre I can sell from my front door, but not from my shed, which is less than a metre away,' she told the BBC.
Maidstone Baker Faces Uncertain Future
Sarah Baker, a mother-of-three, launched her cake shed in Maidstone last September to earn extra income. She was shocked to learn she could be fined without a street trading licence. 'I was gutted really, because I thought I work hard, I've got a good little thing and then I could lose that money,' she said. Sarah, who cares for her parents, fears she cannot afford the licence as she earns only £60 to £100 per weekend.
Mel Houston, a dementia carer from Harrietsham, closed her cake shed after discovering the council might require a licence. 'It was a bit of a kick in the teeth,' she said. 'I shut it down straight away.'
Council Defends Licensing for Fairness and Safety
A report for Bassetlaw's licensing committee stated that including cake sheds in the street trading policy 'ensures consistency, fairness, and public protection.' It argued that without regulation, there is an uneven playing field and reduced ability to manage safety and standards.
A Maidstone council spokesman acknowledged that their current Street Trading Policy was not designed for such low-level home businesses and is being reviewed to ensure a fair and proportionate approach. 'Where enquiries are received, our focus is on providing advice and clarity, rather than enforcement,' he said.
Despite this, many home bakers remain anxious. Sarah Baker added: 'I feel it's just another way to make money from us. I just think it's unfair.'
