An entrepreneurial Mansfield Woodhouse businessman has not allowed the coronavirus pandemic to stop him from expanding.

Paul Haywood has moved his home-based cheesecake business, Alrate Cheesecakes, into new premises on High Street, called Haywood’s.

He says he is over the moon at the move and promises that Haywood’s will soon also offer a full breakfast, lunch and dessert menu. An evening menu will be on offer when restrictions allow for indoor dining.

Paul has also taken on a new head chef, Kirsty Leonardi, and plans to allow customers to eat outside the venue when Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed on 12th April, before inviting them inside in May. 

“Our new menu is still under wraps and you’ll find out what we shall be doing in April ready for the 12th and Eat Outside,” he said.

“All being well we can allow you inside from 17th May.

“We already have a handful of cracking places in the village where you can get a breakfast cob, afternoon tea etc so we wanted to try something different.”

Paul, 39, dreamed up the idea for Alrate Cheesecakes while on the beach in Cambodia in 2017.

Since then the popular business has taken off from his home, but he always wanted to have separate premises in Mansfield Woodhouse.

“I’m buzzing to be open,” said Paul. “I’ve always wanted my own place, so to have done this during lockdown is a dream come true.

“I just can’t wait until the restrictions end and I can start feeding people properly.”

Haywood’s is currently open six days a week for customers to buy cheesecakes, and that will be extended to seven days after lockdown.

Paul plans to launch a full menu, featuring  from 5th April ahead of starting an eat outside service a week later. He promises the menu will include indulgent choices.

Talking about bringing Kirsty into his team, he added: “Our paths crossed about a year ago when I was lucky enough to taste some of her bakes and boy are they good.”

His love for cooking saw the much-travelled Paul feature on a TV programme with famous chef Gordon Ramsey.

As featured in the News Journal in 2017, he appeared on Culinary Genuis, where Ramsey labelled him a caveman because he used his hands so much — and the idea was born for Paul to start another business, Caveman Kitchen, featuring home-cooked household favourites.

ABOVE: Paul Haywood and Kirsty Leonardi.