A stylish new dessert cafe is opening in Blaenau Gwent next week that will offer a variety of sweet treats as seen in large cities but for a fraction of the price.
Ermina Yasir, 20, and Hichem Atallah, 26, have partnered up to bring a luxurious feel to Blaina, Abertillery by launching M&H Desserts. The pair previously worked in the popular Cafe Lazeez restaurant, owned by Mina's mum, Faiza Zaman, and decided to start a business focused on Mina's baking.
During lockdown, Mina started a baking company and became successful by selling cupcakes and large occasion cakes. She said: "My mum already had a business in the town and my dad also had a shop and I wanted to have a bigger space to make cakes, as I already had a small cake business that I ran from my house. I needed something a bit bigger and thought why not open a shop to go with it."
Mina said she often visited "aesthetically pleasing" and "instagrammable" cafes in London, and wanted to bring a luxurious feel to Blaina. She said: "In Blaenau Gwent, we don't really have many nice things, especially for teenagers and kids. When I go down to London, my friends and I look for places that are aesthetically pleasing, instagrammable cafes and places to take pictures.
"Blaenau Gwent is a bit of a deprived area and I thought why not bring something nice to the people so they can see and enjoy it too? Some people don't have cars and can't drive all that way, so I thought to open it locally so they can come and experience that for themselves. "
Since the announcement of launching M&H Desserts, Mina says the community response has been "overwhelming and amazing." She added: "I didn't expect it to shoot off so well straight off the bat."
The interior and design will give a luxury feel, but Mina says the prices will reflect "what is affordable" for the people in Blaenau Gwent. Customers can expect a variety of sweet treats, such as churros, waffles, dutch pancakes, milkshakes and smoothies. It will also include a variety of cakes, offering cupcakes, occasion cakes for order, brownies and macaroons.
As well as running a business, Mina is also in college and hopes to attend university in September. She said: "I hope to study children's nursing. It's going to be hectic but we have a lot of family who have offered to help and support us. If I get into Cardiff University I'll be commuting back and forth to help out."
Due to the recent bad weather, with rain, snow and sleet covering Blaenau Gwent and large parts of Wales, Mina and Hichem had to push back the opening until Monday, March 20, as deliveries weren't able to arrive. M&H Desserts, 70 High St, Blaina, Abertillery, NP13 3BN, will be open daily for the first few weeks, then moving to six days a week.
Read next:
- Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day returns and ice cream lovers can have any flavour
- New York-style bar and kitchen to open in Cardiff's trendiest suburb
- Morrisons offers special Mother's Day afternoon tea for just £10
- The new late-night coffee shop and funky bar in Swansea city centre
- Swansea city centre’s famous Reeds bakery closing after 100 years due to energy costs
