A highly skilled pastry chef with experience at some of the world’s most renowned patisseries is set to open her own cake and coffee takeaway shop in Sligo this Valentine’s Day.
Lauren McLoughlin, a native of Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo, will officially launch Lauren’s Patisserie on Adelaide Street at 10 a.m. on February 14.
The new store, located next to Salon 2, will serve handcrafted cakes made from the finest ingredients, alongside premium coffee sourced from Bell Lane in Mullingar.
With over a decade of experience in the pastry industry, Lauren has honed her craft at prestigious establishments, including Gleneagles in Scotland, Ashford Castle in Ireland, Le Petit Caporal in France, and Peggy Porschen in London. In 2017, she had the honor of representing Scotland at The Culinary Olympics in Germany while working at Gleneagles.
Lauren’s journey into the world of pastry began at 18 when her uncle treated her to a visit to Gleneagles. A conversation with the pastry chef there inspired her to pursue an apprenticeship rather than attending culinary college. Shortly after completing her Leaving Certificate at Ursuline College, Sligo, she began her training at Gleneagles during Ryder Cup Week.
While working at Peggy Porschen in London, Lauren returned home for a holiday in 2020 but was unable to return due to the pandemic. Seizing the opportunity, she started wholesaling desserts to hotels, cafés, and restaurants across Ireland. Today, her business supplies clients nationwide and caters for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events, using only the finest ingredients such as Benbulben eggs, Irish butter, and Belgian chocolate.
Speaking about her new venture, Lauren shared:
“Having my own shop has always been a dream. When I saw the premises, I knew it was perfect—the street is beautiful, and the building is modern. I’m so excited to welcome customers from Valentine’s Day and offer them high-quality cakes, bakes, and a classic patisserie experience.”