A CAFE and catering business is expanding after 15 months to meet demand.

Cake Me Crazy Cafe has agreed a 10-year lease for a unit at Canford Heath Neighbourhood Centre, where its neighbours will include Asda, Ladbrokes and Barnado’s.

Clare Vachell launched the business in February last year at Poole’s Arena Business Centre, Holyrood Close.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, she said the business had already outgrown the first premises.

“Although it is on a business centre with the footfall being mainly the on-site offices, I managed to build a good customer base with the catering side of things, although the pandemic had its restrictions,” she said.

“So to adapt I built a website, hired a marketing company, joined Just Eat and Deliveroo and built quite a large following from my deliveries.

“I’m now outgrowing the unit I’m in and need more space, however the dream was always to have somewhere people could sit in – or outside – to relax and enjoy themselves.

“I want it to be somewhere for people of all ages to come along, eat, socialise and have fun.

“It will mostly be eat-in but with deliveries and takeaways still available and will be continuing my catering.

“I will also be offering cupcake decorating classes for birthdays and mornings for children as well as hopefully holding charity events,” she added.

She also plans to sell locally produced goods, such as chutneys, jams and wax melts.

Ms Vachell has taken the keys to the unit and is now starting to fit out, with the aim of opening in the next few weeks.

She signed the tenancy deal with national commercial property and investment company LCP, which manages the centre on Culliford Crescent.

Alex Williams, asset manager at LCP, said: “The Neighbourhood Centre is a busy parade that provides the local community with a good mix of tenants.

“It is great to see a local business choosing to expand into our centre and further develop the offering.”