Chef sets up first time business with help from WDH

Published by Richard Lord for Wakefield & District Housing in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Health, Local Government

A chef who has travelled the world and cooked in countries such as Norway, Belize, Cyprus, Canada and Kuwait is bringing his culinary experience to West Yorkshire with the help of social landlords Wakefield and District Housing (WDH).

Andy Derrick, who served as a kitchen manager with the armed services for 22 years, will be offering cooked breakfasts, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and healthy options when his new café opens in Airedale, Castleford, next month.

The chance to begin his own business arose when the WDH commercial property he lived above as a tenant for nearly a year became available in January.

Mr Derrick, 42, said the opportunity – which was quite literally on his front doorstep – was too good to turn down.

“I hadn’t really thought about doing something like this until the property beneath me became available and I realised how reasonable the lease was from WDH,” he said. “It’s one of the main reasons why I’ve gone for it.

“It’s really affordable and it’s basically allowed me to completely redecorate the inside and install a new kitchen so I can have it looking the way I want it to be.

“Living above the shop, as I’ve done for a while now, I’ve seen the custom that comes this way and I know what they want.

“You can drive past any time of the day and there will always be cars parked up using the shops here. It’s a popular part of town that’s well used by pupils going to school as well.”

The café, which will be called ‘Andy’s Snack Shack’, is due to open next month and Mr Derrick says the upcoming weeks are going to be an exciting time.

“I’ll be making some big changes to the property to get it ready in time to open. It’s an exciting time and WDH has given me plenty of support to make this happen.”

WDH Property Management Officer Kimberley Needham said “Andy came to us with a very sound plan, showing us that he’s done his research, and it’s great that we can support a first-time business like this.

“It’s also good that we are helping to fill a gap in the local community as Andy’s café will be offering a service that has been absent from the Triangle for a short while.”