Mayo’s sweet return at Wimbledon 2025
IN 1877, Spencer Gore, a descendant of the Mayo Gores, etched his name in history as Wimbledon’s first-ever men’s singles champion.
Nearly 150 years later, another Irish talent connected to Mayo is making her mark at the prestigious tournament, this time, not with a racquet, but with a step pallet knife.
Originally from Tipperary, Paula Stakelum, better known as Paula Pastry, is based at the Ashford Castle Estate in Cong, Co. Mayo, where she serves as the Global Director of Chocolate & Pâtisserie for the entire Red Carnation Hotels group. This summer, she’s bringing a distinct Irish flair to Wimbledon with two exclusive Paula Pastry x Lanson Champagne activations.
Paula is renowned for her ability to fuse heritage, storytelling and culinary artistry into edible masterpieces.
The award-winning pastry chef first collaborated with Lanson Champagne last summer with a special pop-up at The Rubens at The Palace hotel during Wimbledon, where guests indulged in a tennis-inspired dessert crafted from two of Britain’s most-loved ingredients - strawberries and cream.
This year, Paula will take things one step further and will be showcasing some of her finest creations courtside at Wimbledon with guests of Lanson’s corporate box treated to four exquisite afternoon tea pastries as well as a takeaway gift.
Paula’s exclusive creations for Lanson’s corporate guests include Wimbledon Court: A delicate layered shortbread, enhanced with zesty lemon curd and velvety vanilla cream, finished with a natural green-hued cocoa butter spray, crowned with a bespoke ‘PaulaPastry X Lanson’ plaque. This dessert reflects the sophistication and prestige of Wimbledon.
Strawberries & Cream: A quintessentially British bakewell tart, elevated with a luscious layer of dulce caramel and crowned with a strawberry and Opaly’s white chocolate cream. A magnificent take on a British classic.
Tennis Ball: A refined take on the iconic peach melba, featuring luscious peach, vibrant raspberry, and smooth vanilla, elevated with a delicate touch of Lanson Rosé Champagne. Enrobed in a velvety yellow cocoa butter spray to perfectly mimic a tennis ball, this creation celebrates the spirit of Wimbledon.
Legend: Legend chocolate was exclusively created by Paula Pastry in partnership with revered chocolate brand Valrhona and offers a 55% cocoa content, for a rich milk chocolate tasting experience. This decadent layered chocolate cake, enriched with a velvety Legend chocolate crémeux offers refined indulgence, crafted to leave a lasting impression.
Takeaway gift: A bespoke chocolate snack bar, filled with a delicate Lanson Rosé and strawberry gel, paired with a luscious woodruff-infused white chocolate ganache. The exterior is meticulously hand-painted in the iconic green and purple hues of Wimbledon, and base features the exclusive Paula Pastry X Lanson branding, a thoughtful memento marking an unforgettable experience.
Lanson X Paula Pastry pop-up at The Reubens
In addition to Paula’s afternoon pastry menu at Wimbledon, the Lanson x Paula Pastry pop-up at The Reubens at The Palace is set to return for 2025 with another must-try menu.
Running from June 30 to July 13, this exclusive dessert experience invites guests to indulge in The Sweet Serve by Paula Pastry - a delicate pistachio cake layered with zesty lemon curd and velvety pistachio cream, elegantly finished with a natural pistachio-hued cocoa butter spray. Served alongside a glass of Champagne Lanson Le Rosé Création 67, this indulgence is priced at £36.