A couple who became inspired by the concept of takeaway pie shops whilst on a trip Down Under have decided to replicate the concept in Swansea - and they're off to a roaring start.
Billy Howes and Tash Small are behind Bogan's Bakery, having started the business from a converted commercial kitchen at their Gowerton home during the coronavirus pandemic as a delivery service selling bread and pastries.
They had initially hoped to launch their own pie and coffee shop, inspired by the "soul food" they saw served up on their Australia holiday, but decided to put it on hold due to the economic climate at the time. But now they have finally been able to bring their plan to fruition, launching Motley Pie and Coffee at Woodlands in Gowerton.
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Featuring a small menu of well-made pies and sausage rolls, along with a selection of coffee, the business is already receiving rave reviews and winning the support of those who live locally.
Explaining how it all came about, Mr Howes explained: "We had just come back from Australia, where there were these two insane pie shops, and we were looking to replicate it over here.
"They were the equivalent of our pasties, being served in the middle of the day, and they were so tasty and so full of ingredients, it was something that was real soul food. We just couldn't understand why there was nothing like it at home.
"Everyone loves pie, it's quite traditional - you don't go to a pub without seeing steak and ale on the menu, so we felt we could recreate what they had over there.
"As we were pulling our ideas together and looking for a premises, Covid reared its head, and people were looking at us like we had six arms when we were looking for a place. People were telling us 'food right now is not a good idea'.
"We decided to start Bogan's Bakery which is bread and pastries, but starting from home, turning one of the rooms of our house into a commercial kitchen and just doing food deliveries. As the year went on, it was getting busier and busier, and we took on a member of staff and started working with a few cafes. Then someone approached us and said, 'Look, I've got this little shop in Gowerton, would you like to come and take a look at it?' We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it. We decided we'd go ahead with it.
"It wasn't enough room for us to expand the bakery, so we reverted back to our original idea for the pie shop."
The business officially launched on January 5, and Mr Howes described it as "very grab and go", offering an alternative to other bakeries in the area. It is mainly a takeaway business, with no seating available, but there is an area where you can stand and eat if you wish.
"We have had a lot of support from local businesses which has really helped us drum up trade, and the business has been really well received," he said.
"Customers say they are amazed there has been nothing like this before, and it's nice to see that the older generation are really buying into it as well. They have been really supportive.
"We've got a nice tight menu, and we're looking to change it up every week by just adding new products. We try and cater for a variety of people with some veggie options on there."
Mr Howes added that there were a few items on their menu which were receiving especially rave reviews, in particular their vegetarian Glamorgan sausage roll, which is made up of leek, cheese and Dijon mustard.
"Meat eaters were coming in and not realising it was veggie, and it became something we couldn't make enough of, it was selling out so quickly every day," he said.
"We do a pork and apple sausage roll and equally, we sell a lot of them. We do two classics of pie, a chicken and mushroom and a steak and ale, and then we do a dauphinoise and caramelised onion.
"It's awesome to have a physical presence. I love the customer side of it and I love being able to interact with people and get that initial reaction from somebody who tries something, I enjoy that side of it."
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