Sweet success: Cakes by Lucy wins prestigious wedding award

A Glossop-based wedding cake designer is celebrating a major industry achievement after being named an East Midlands Regional Winner at The Wedding Industry Awards 2026.

Cakes by Lucy, founded and run by Lucy Ainsworth, secured the title of Wedding Cake Designer of the Year at a glittering awards ceremony held last week at The Palace Hotel in Buxton. As a regional winner, Lucy will now go forward to compete in the national finals in Liverpool in January 2026. 

The accolade marks Lucy’s second consecutive regional win, having already claimed the same title in 2025 — a rare achievement in an industry known for its high standards and fierce competition. 

Speaking after the announcement, Lucy said she was “truly honoured and beyond proud” to receive the award once again. 

“To be named Cake Designer of the Year twice is incredibly special,” she said. “The Wedding Industry Awards are widely regarded as the most rigorous and respected in the UK wedding sector, so to have my small business recognised at this level is amazing.” 

The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) are unique in the UK, combining client-voted scores with independent judging by industry experts. Results are based on feedback from customers over a 12-month period, alongside detailed assessments from a panel of more than 160 expert judges. 

This year’s awards saw 26,747 votes cast across the country for around 1,300 wedding businesses, with just 1,000 suppliers progressing to regional finalist status. Regional winners were announced at a series of events held throughout November. 

Founder of The Wedding Industry Awards, Damian Bailey, said the process ensures only the very best suppliers are recognised. 

“TWIA is the most rigorous, respected and coveted awards programme in the wedding industry,” he said. “The competition is tough and standards are extremely high. Thanks to tens of thousands of client votes and our expert judging panel, the Regional Winners have risen to the top in an industry that absolutely demands the best.” 

With the UK wedding industry estimated to be worth around £15 billion annually, suppliers face intense competition to stand out in a crowded marketplace. For this year’s regional winners, the recognition provides a prestigious seal of approval as they head into the 2026 wedding season and beyond. 

Cakes by Lucy was founded in 2020, initially offering bespoke celebration cakes to customers across Glossop. As the business grew, Lucy increasingly specialised in luxury wedding cakes, designing and creating centrepiece cakes that are both visually striking and renowned for their flavour. 

Today, Lucy works closely with a number of leading wedding venues across Derbyshire and Cheshire, and has built a strong reputation as one of the North’s standout wedding industry suppliers, known for her attention to detail, creativity and customer service. 

All of this year’s regional award winners will now compete at the National Final in Liverpool on 21 January 2026, where overall category winners will be crowned.