Anti-Valentine’s cakes provide solace to Hackney’s lonely singletons

RIP Love and Forever Yours, by Cakey Muto. Photograph: Tim.Sullivan@hackneycitizen.co.uk

If you love yourself and no one else, have a broken heart or an annoying ex – or simply don’t like the commercialism around Valentine’s Day – a recently opened Clapton cafe and bakery could help you make the most of a day some would rather avoid.

Cakey Muto, which opened on Chatsworth Road in the autumn, is taking a darkly humorous approach to the ‘day for lovers’.  As well as yummy baked items and sweets for happy couples, the cafe is offering Anti-Valentine’s Day cakes. One says “RIP Love”, while another proclaims “I love myself”. Or why not get the “Voodoo your ex” gingerbread figure?

But it’s not all twisted cynicism. Cakey Muto also has a range of birthday cakes, baby shower cakes, cupcakes, pies, scones in all flavours, monmouth coffee and vegan and gluten-free alternatives.

The colourful spot invites customers to relax in pink plastic chairs, eat delicious cakes, listen to their own CD mix on the jukebox, and enjoy either wine or coffee.

Octavia Landy and her partner Thogdin Ripley, run the place together, along with a team of bakers.

Octavia’s dream customer would be Keith Richards.

“I’d laugh hysterically and drop the cake,” she says.

The former TV producer had her eye on the empty Chatsworth Road location for over a year before she eventually turned it into Cakey Muto.

“I’ve always loved baking,” she says. “Cakey Muto is my baby.”

The shop’s name was suggested at a friend’s wedding in Tokyo when a cake cutter screamed what sounded to Octavia like “Cakey Muto”. It was in fact a misheard cry of “cut the cake” in Japanese.