A POPULAR Flintshire bread maker is proving to be a hit with café customers in Mynydd Isa.

The Leader was invited to come and see the room being used Mynydd Isa Community Centre by brilliant baker Ian Purcell – who has teamed up with the venue to bring an artisan feel to their cafe.

Trained chef Ian told the Leader how his new set-up is vastly different to when he was dabbling in the world of bread making from his conservatory at home.

He said: “Through the lockdown I kept baking and I’ve built up a good client base and they’re now able to come and collect bread from the community centre. It’s all come a long way since March.”

Ian says that the business started out of his own home during the coronavirus lockdown as – like many hospitality venues across the UK – Ian’s workplace was forced to close during the initial lockdown in March.

However, he was offered a room that had been standing unused at the local community centre for several months prior in September.

The bread is on sale and being used as a staple for dishes served at Caffi Isa, a café being run out of Mynydd Isa’s former library unit.

The café venture is run by Sara Parker and Louise Roberts – who say they’ve had a big influx of people come interested in Ian’s bread but end up staying for other things offered by the community centre.

Sara said: “We have had lots of people come in after hearing about Ian's amazing bread. It's been a big draw to the centre but its made people more aware of what else in going on right here on their own doorsteps.

Sara explained to the Leader how the venture has been going now for about five years and has grown organically into a diverse space that provides so much for the community of Mynydd Isa.

She adds that plans are being worked on to continue growing the centre and be able to offer even more.

It was said that the centre is slowly recovering from the impact of the coronavirus lockdown periods with usual groups and activities returning as safely as possible.

Sara was keen to stress that the building is so much more than "just a cafe" and there is usually something on that will appeal to everyone.

Caffi Isa have regularly put on a Christmas pantomime - with this year having to be slightly different.

The group usually utilise their stage area to host a live show but, under coronavirus restrictions, they'll be offering up a screening of their planned performance - Aladdin - on the cafe's big screen in a safe, socially-distanced manner for families to enjoy.

To find out more about Caffi Isa, follow them on social media or go to their website - http://www.caffi-isa.co.uk/.