Iryna Malenko, from Ukraine, has opened the Sweet Bramble in the microshops.
The cafe was officially opened by Trowbridge’s Mayor, Cllr Stephen Cooper, who cut the ribbon on Saturday, September 6.
Iryna told the Wiltshire Times that she had previously been a finalist on MasterChef Ukraine, an achievement which gave her the confidence to follow her dream and share her desserts with the world.
Iryna said she opened the Sweet Bramble with the intention of bringing together heritage, craft, and her belief that “desserts can tell stories and connect people”.
The Sweet Bramble blends Ukrainian and British baking classics together.
One of the foremost examples of this is the honey cake, a well-known and beloved Ukrainian pastry to which Iryna has added a British twist, with raspberry sundae honey cakes, salted caramel honey cakes, Biscoff honey cakes, and lemon curd honey cakes among a range of sweet pieces on offer.
Iryna said: “I am originally from Ukraine, where I grew up surrounded by food traditions that shaped me as a pastry chef. I became a finalist on MasterChef Ukraine, which gave me the confidence to follow my dream and share my desserts with the world.
“For the past three years, I worked as a pastry chef at the beautiful Woolley Grange Hotel, where I developed my skills in a professional kitchen and learned how to balance creativity with consistency.
“When the hotel closed for major refurbishment, I saw it as the right opportunity to use the experience I had gained and start something of my own.
“The name [The Sweet Bramble] comes from a very personal childhood memory. My grandfather used to return from the fields carrying wild blackberries wrapped in a large burdock leaf.
(Image: Trevor Porter)
“For us children, those berries were the sweetest treats in the world — something we waited for with excitement and love. That simple joy, the feeling of warmth and connection with nature, became the heart of my brand.
“Sweet Bramble is more than just a café. It is a story that began in Ukraine, where I grew up, and continues here in England, where I now live in the beautiful town of Bradford on Avon. It is a meeting of two cultures, expressed through desserts made with love, soul, and respect for tradition.”
She continued: “The uniqueness of Sweet Bramble lies in the fact that every dessert tells a story. At the heart of the menu is the Ukrainian honey cake, a dessert that for many of us carries the taste of childhood — it awakens memories of family gatherings, celebrations, and the warmth of home. I want to share this feeling here in the UK, so that guests can discover both familiar and new flavours.
“What makes Sweet Bramble truly special is the way I weave traditions together. I start with the Ukrainian heritage I grew up with — recipes deeply rooted in memory and culture — and then I enrich them with flavours that are especially loved here in England. In this way, the desserts become a bridge, uniting two nations and two traditions through food.
“Each creation is more than just a dessert — it’s a dialogue between cultures, a way to say that food can connect us, no matter where we come from.
“Alongside the honey cakes, we will offer a rotating selection of hand-decorated gingerbread cookies, seasonal desserts, and other creations that blend Ukrainian and British influences.
“A special place on the menu belongs to pancakes, which are very popular in Ukraine. I decided to rethink the way they are served, adapting them to local tastes — with fillings and flavour combinations that will feel familiar to a British audience, while still keeping their Ukrainian roots.
“Every item is handmade, using natural ingredients, and created with the belief that food is not only about taste, but also about emotions and connection.”
