Icing on the cake: Birchwood's dessert café two months on

The dessert shop, run by couple Charlotte Izzard and Will Silcock, has been moving from strength to strength since opening at Birchwood Shopping Centre two months ago.

We revisited Birchwood's only dessert cafe to find out whether a warm reception has been the icing on the cake for the owners.

The store is Birchwood Shopping Centre's most vibrant outlet (Image: Newsquest)

You will be hard-pressed to visit Birchwood Shopping Centre and not notice Milk It - the bright pink livery that adorns the exterior of the store is incredibly eye-catching, to say the least.

When asked about the warm reception that the store has received since opening in Birchwood, co-owner Charlotte said: "We've actually got regulars now!

"There's a lovely family who come in on a Sunday, for example."

One of the only hiccoughs experienced since the store opened is something that Charlotte and Will are soon to address: "There's sometimes a lull at lunchtimes - but we're a dessert place!

"People often come in and ask us if we've got something savoury, so we've launched our lunchtime menu to cater for that."

Impressively, from the time of first hearing feedback requesting a lunch menu to sourcing the ingredients and producing their new menu, it only took the couple four weeks.

"We didn't intend to have a lunchtime menu when we set out, but because we're a small, independent business we can listen to feedback and stay flexible," Charlotte said.

She added: "When we first opened I took a lot of pride seeing that we had five stars on all platforms - we've had one or two bits of constuctive feedback, but we do take it all on board."

One of the aspects that the duo did not foresee was the diversity of the store's clientele: "We weren't expecting the number of slightly older people who we thought would stick to outlets like Costa who have started coming to us, as they are traditionally very loyal to bigger brands."

On offer at Milk It is a range of beverages, including ever-popular ice cream milkshakes, and exclusive iced coffees; "People gravitate to our lavender and blueberry iced coffees," the owners said.

Ice cream, milkshakes, and coffee are all on the menu - and more! (Image: Newsquest)

Charlotte added: "We're a full dessert cafe now that we'll be offering our lunchtime menu.

"We wanted to give Birchwood something it didn't already have."

However, it hasn't all been plain sailing for Charlotte and Will: "There's no work-life balance at all.

"But we're heading in the right direction, because the team are so great."

Since opening two months ago, the team has grown into a group of 12, which includes a mix of part-time and full-time employees - Charlotte says the group offer valuable insights and often contributes to the menu, too.

"We're still actively looking for people, too," the owners said.

The store is a real treat in the heart of Birchwood (Image: Newsquest)

When asked about when the pair will be able to take a day off or have a break, Charlotte said: "I'll be able to smile the day that we're able to book a holiday!

"It's all about slowly letting go and trusting the team more and more - it's just hard to let go.

"Having something you care about so much means that nothing will ever be absolutely perfect."

Milk It Desserts can be found at Birchwood Shopping Centre - for more information and opening hours, visit the store's website or social media pages.