Moo, a self-serve cheesecake shop, has opened in Ton Pentre, inspired by Australia’s dessert culture, offering a unique build-your-own experience.
Ton Pentre: A new self-serve cheesecake shop called Moo has just opened up in the Rhondda Valleys. It’s a cool spot where you can create your own cheesecake just the way you like it. You pick your base, toppings, and sauces, and it all started at the beginning of November.
The brains behind Moo are Louise Fisher and Kelsey Mathieson, both from Pontypridd. They got the idea while working at a frozen yogurt shop in Australia last year. Kelsey had this lightbulb moment, thinking how awesome it would be to have a self-serve cheesecake place instead.
Kelsey mentioned that frozen yogurt shops are super popular in Australia, and since she’s a cheesecake lover, it just made sense. They decided to bring that idea back to Wales and make it happen.
They took a big leap to open Moo, using money they had saved for a house deposit. Neither of them had any business experience before this. Kelsey was working in bus mechanics, while Louise juggled her job in recruitment with running the shop in the evenings and on weekends.
Even though Ton Pentre might not be the first place you think of for a dessert shop, Louise explained that they looked at several locations. They considered Cardiff and Pontypridd but found that Cardiff was too competitive and pricey for their budget.
When they found the shop in Pentre, it felt just right. The price was good, and the community seemed welcoming. They knew right away that it was the place for them.
At Moo, you can build your cheesecake for just £5.95. Choose from biscuit bases like Oreo or Biscoff, then add their freshly-made cream cheese and load it up with toppings like mini marshmallows, Dairy Milk chunks, and even Jaffacakes. There are also plenty of sauces to drizzle on top.
They also whip up milkshakes and waffles, so there’s something for everyone. Since opening, Louise and Kelsey have been thrilled with the response. Evenings are buzzing with young folks coming in to enjoy cheesecake with friends, just like they used to do.
Louise shared that word spreads quickly in the Valleys, and they hope that if people have a great experience, they’ll tell their friends. So far, it’s been better than they expected, with customers raving about the cheesecake.
They’re excited about the future and hope to keep growing. Their goal is to be around for a long time, bringing joy to cheesecake lovers in the area.