Blackhill builder Mark Hart became a rising start of the food world when he opened his bakery and cafe in the County Durham village.
Dad-of-three Mark had to give up working in the family building firm when a back injury forced him to change careers, but the risky move has paid off and his thriving Sweethart's business celebrates its 10th birthday this month.
Although Mark, 47, was not completely new to baking as he made occasional cakes for family and friends as a hobby, bread was a different matter, and he had to bake his first loaves using recipe books and cookery shows for instruction. From his first day of baking 12 loaves, he now produces around 300 a day, to service his shop and cafe on Durham Road, Blackhill, near Consett, and his growing wholesale business, supplying other cafes in the region.
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"Eyebrows were definitely raised when I decided to open in Blackhill, as at the time, it was not an obvious site for a business like ours," said Mark, who owns the bakery with his wife, Lisa, 48. "I think people were expecting a greasy spoon type cafe, but right from the start, Lisa and I wanted to open the type of place that we would want to go in ourselves. We wanted somewhere nice.
"Our first premises was just over the road from where we are now, in Derwent Street, and we were there for five years before moving to the current one. Lisa didn't know I was planning to add a bakery to the cafe in the beginning, and when she saw the sign she asked who was doing the baking.
"When I said I was, I think she was a bit taken aback as I had never baked bread before. But I taught myself, and it was a good decision to make our own bread and it's one of the things that makes us unique and people love."
Sweethart's soon built up a reputation with local people and beyond, being shortlisted for TV programme Britain's Best Bakery just 18 months after opening, and winning national food accolades for its custard tarts and stottie cakes.
Although Lisa does not work in the bakery, Sweethart's employs other members of the family, including Paul, Mark's 45-year-old brother, who has Down's Syndrome, and who Mark says has always worked alongside him, from building to bar work to baking.
"My mum and dad are always around too, " said Mark. "During lockdown, we set up a home delivery service just to keep some money coming in, and mum and dad copped for all the deliveries!
"That and when we first started out were tricky times for us. Lisa and I remortgaged the house to start the business, so there was a lot of pressure on us to make it work. We honestly didn't know whether it would work or not - there were some very, very nervous times at the beginning.
"People still ask me if I miss building, but when I see builders out in the middle of winter and in the pouring rain, I don't think I do at all! I'm working from about 3am until 6 or 7pm six days a week now, but I have no regrets.
"I do still keep my hand in a bit with building. My dad, Nick, and I did all the renovations for both the old and new shops, and we are currently working on an AirBnB above the cafe, so there's always something to do."
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