Car park takeaway proves a big hit with pizza lovers
IN THE car park of a Valleys rugby club you’ll find a man making some of the most delicious-looking pizzas in the Valleys.
Michael Creedon, 50, from Abercynon, only started making his tempting pizzas during lockdown when he was furloughed from his job as a magazine printer.
He decided he could use his passion for baking bread to make a bit of money when he was out of work during lockdown.
Little did he know he’d end up creating authentic Italian pizzas from the car park of his local rugby club, and be loving every second of it.
More than a year down the line, and his little business is booming.
Michael said: “We were trying to think how we were going to make ends meet.
“My wife said to me ‘why don’t you make bread?’ as I love to make bread for the family.
“I didn’t think I would make much money from bread, so I started to think of what else we could do.
“I thought maybe we could do pizzas.”
So with the little pizza oven Michael had at home he gave it a shot, and when family gave him rave reviews he set up a Facebook page during lockdown, and people would pick up their pizzas from Michael when he left them at the bottom of the garden.
Then, as restrictions eased, Abercynon RFC allowed Michael to put up a gazebo in the car park to run more of a little shop.
He said at the time it was great as the weather was so good and – between being there and having gained a presence on social media – he was able to reach more people.
But, as the country moved in and out of lockdowns, Michael had to go back to work.
“I was working 12-hour shifts,” he said.
“And I just thought, I’m 50 this year, and it’s not what I want to be doing with my life. So I bought a shipping container and spoke with Abercynon RFC and said, ‘Can I put it in the car park?’
“We started the little business from there.”
The business, known as Loaded Dough, stands out for its quality and the fact the pizzas are nothing like your regular takeaway cheesy feasts.
Michael makes the dough from scratch with Italian flour and he makes the sauce with Italian tomatoes, and all the pizzas are cooked in his authentic pizza oven.
This limits the amount he can make each weekend, but pizza lovers are guarantied to be treated to a real taste of Italy, and you only have to visit the rugby club car park to sample the delights.
Michael also loves the fact that the business has become a real family affair as his wife is also a chef who runs her own business, Ooh La La
Patisserie.
Orders are flying in for the pizzas, and people can either book a slot to pick one up or turn up on the day. Loaded Dough is currently open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Michael said: “I’m amazed by the amount of people who ring up and drive over to pick a pizza up.
“Over the weekend I’ll make between 150 and 200 pizzas. We sell these almost every weekend.
“The support we have had from people in the community of Abercynon, and from Abercynon RFC, has been really great.
“I’m very pleased with how it’s going.”