A Malvern café has undergone a stunning transformation with the help of an expert chef.
Since January, 32-year-old Andrew Oliver, owner of Poolbrook Kitchen and Coffee Shop, Poolbrook Road, has been under the tutelage of Felice Tocchini, owner and head chef at Feli’s, Stoulton.
Alongside his wife, Fiorinda, the couple have been mentoring Mr Oliver after his parents retired last year.
Mr Oliver, who has lived in Malvern for 16 years, said: “Felice has taught me new tricks in the kitchen.
“He has managed to get my spark back, which I have not had for a long time.
“They have helped with the new look, so the café has completely changed, and they have also helped with getting in new suppliers and budgeting the right way.
“We have had disagreements here and there, but everyone will have disagreements, and they have carried on and I love them to bits.”
Alongside the menu, the café has been given a new look during the transformation (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Oliver has autism and says from an early age was told by teachers in school that he would never do anything in life and has wanted to show that disabilities should never stop you from doing what you want.
Mr and Mrs Tocchini have helped turn around several other businesses across the county in the last two decades but faced new challenges during their stint at Poolbrook.
Mr Tocchini said: “The other ones were mainly us doing it by ourselves to change things for other people to take over, whereas this one, you cannot change too much because it is Andrew’s place.
“We are guiding him to see certain things in a different way and change some of his ways, but it is still his own business.”
With Mr Oliver launching a new menu, featuring sharing platters, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, and more, he is now looking ahead at the long-term future of the business.
He said: “I want to expand somehow.
“I don’t know how yet, but I want to get this up and running completely and then expand to new sites, whether it is keeping this and having another, or moving to a new, bigger site.”