In these straitened times, home baking has certainly enjoyed something of a renaissance.

There has been a resurgence in sales of cake stands and supermarkets now stock an abundance of baking ingredients, brightly-coloured cupcake cases and all manner of decorations.

But it’s the enduring appeal of a slice of homemade cake and a cup of tea – rather than this renewed enthusiasm for baking – that led to an underground movement of cake lovers in the region.

Formed 18 months ago by 61-year-old Lynn Hill, the Clandestine Cake Club’s mission is simply to ‘Bake, Eat and Talk about Cake’.

There are now more than 100 branches of the club worldwide, as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and even the Cayman Islands.

Each offers people with a passion for baking cakes the chance to get together and share their creations at a secret location, revealed to them just days beforehand.

The first meeting of the club’s Saltaire branch at Yo Yo Bar and Restaurant in Shipley is a real feast for the eyes. Standing close the entrance is a table laden with sumptuous-looking cakes.

There are carrot cakes, a lemon drizzle, a chocolate mud cake, a strawberry and cream-flavoured Victoria sponge and a flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake – to name just a few.

Around 30 people are sat comfortably nearby in the restaurant’s spacious bar area, happily tucking in to one, two or even three slices over a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of wine.

The Saltaire group, one of nine in Yorkshire, is led by self-confessed foodie Shirley Quarmby, who last year starting running her own secret tearoom, known as Chez Shamwari, from her home in the village.

“There seemed to be a need for a Clandestine Cake Club in the Saltaire area. Lots of people were waiting for it to happen,” says Shirley, who was born in Zimbabwe.

“I really enjoy seeing people get to know each other and there’s not many people who would turn down a piece of cake. It’s just good clean fun. These days it can be quite difficult to meet people. It seems a nice way of breaking down barriers.”

The location was disclosed via e-mail to people who had registered an interest in the group on the Clandestine Cake Club website.

“It’s on a need-to-know basis,” says Shirley. “It’s an element of fun because people don’t know where it’s going to be held until just a day or so beforehand.”

Each event has a theme and this evening’s is ‘Old Faithfuls’ – recipes that never fail to impress. There is no element of competition, the aim of the events simply to give people the opportunity to enjoy cake in each other’s company. And there are only a few simple rules members of the club must abide by – the main one being only cakes are permitted; no cupcakes, muffins, tarts, pies or brownies.

“I love baking and I am not very good so I wanted to learn more skills and see what other people do and be with like-minded people,” says Nicola Wilton, 36, of Keighley , who found out about the club on Twitter and has baked a strawberry-topped Victoria sponge.

“We didn’t find out the venue until a few days before and that not knowing makes it a very different experience,” she adds.

Enjoying a slice of chocolate and hazelnut cake is Alice Galloway, who has travelled from Pudsey . “I like the fact that you can drop in and out of the group, I don’t have time in my life for a firm commitment,” she says. “It’s a good way to meet people and discover different cakes.”

The club is not just for women and John Boxall, 29, is one of a handful of men in attendance. A neighbour of Shirley’s, he and his partner Sarah have taken part in some of her successful Chez Shamwari gatherings, which tempted them to try the cake club.

“It’s nice to do something traditionally British like having cake and tea,” he says. “I like the idea that it’s a bit more spontaneous than a big organised event.

“Sarah had been to an event previously and met some really nice people and had a very pleasant time. We will come again.”

There is no profit made from the events and all the venues involved, including Yo Yo’s, give their space for free.

Money will be raised for charity at some of the future Saltaire events, which will be held every month or so, says Shirley, who has another one planned for this month. The venue remains, for now, a firmly-kept secret.

For more information, go to clandestinecakeclub.co.uk.