Renowned culinary school Le Cordon Bleu London has noted a dramatic rise in the number of men applying for patisserie courses year on year. 

In the past six months, in particular, the number of men showing interest in the diploma in patisserie has increased. Demand has been so high that the culinary arts institute has introduced a number of new courses to satiate applicants.

Programmes such as Cake Decorating, Breakfast Baking and Mastering Macaroons are no on offer for people to attend Le Cordon Bleu for one-day workshops. They are said to reach capacity within a fortnight of being announced.

Alan Swinson, culinary arts director at the school, believes there are several reason for the increase. He said: “Our reputation means the number of students applying for the Patisserie Diploma has always been high, but the trend has typically seen more females opting for the course. In the past 12 to 24 months, there has been a noticeable shift in the trend – and it is one which shows no sign of slowing down.”

André Cointreau, president and chief executive of Le Cordon Bleu, said: “The reputation of Le Cordon Bleu has endured as a result of our ceaseless dedication to ensuring our programmes meet the ever-changing needs of the industry.

"In an increasingly competitive marketplace, both men and women want to be trained to the very highest standards. We are delighted to see an increase in men applying for our Patisserie Diplomas both here in the UK and internationally – it is testament to the positive change in attitudes.”