Ashford Castle’s Paula Stakelum is set to bring her signature craftsmanship to Wimbledon 2026 with an exclusive Wimbledon hospitality experience featuring a showstopper desert made from premium Valrhona chocolate.
The Global Director of Chocolate & Pâtisserie for Red Carnation Hotels, aka Paula Pastry, has partnered with Champagne Lanson, for the third successive year, to create a bespoke menu inspired by the spirit of Wimbledon.
Paula Pastry X Champagne Lanson
Guests of Lanson will enjoy a sweet tasting experience curated by Paula, which includes a striking tennis court-inspired treat, filled with strawberries and cream – a tribute to the tournament’s most iconic flavour pairing.
The menu also includes Paula Pastry strawberry and white chocolate shards, balancing fresh berry notes with delicate sweetness to complement Lanson’s celebrated champagnes.
The pièce de resistance this year is the Paula Pastry Chocolate Sphere, a showstopping creation crafted from premium Valrhona chocolate and filled with a rich caramel centre and crunchy cocoa nibs. Finished with hand-decorated chocolate tennis balls in a playful nod to the action taking place on the courts.
Speaking ahead of the Lanson partnership, Paula said: “Wimbledon is synonymous with tradition, excellence and strawberries and cream, so it was a joy to reinterpret those elements through pâtisserie and chocolate and create something memorable. Each creation was carefully crafted to capture the iconic flavours of Wimbledon while ensuring they pair beautifully with the freshness and complexity of Champagne Lanson.”
Paula Pastry at The Drawing Room – Exclusive to Ashford Castle
Based at Ashford Castle Estate in Cong, Co Mayo, Paula is well-known for her ability to blend heritage and place into exceptional pastry creations.
Separate to the Wimbledon offering, and new to Ashford Castle, is the Paula Pastry at The Drawing Room experience – a unique and exclusive haute pâtisserie concept available to both residents and non-residents.
Served in The Drawing Room, guests will enjoy a range of pastries and cakes, such as Paula’s Legend Chocolate with Estate Wood Sorrel, Dulce Choux and Strawberry Shortbread with Woodruff. The experience includes a glass of Champagne Lanson, for an extra celebratory flourish.
Paula Pastry’s Haute Pâtisserie Experience | Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo