“These are happy tears, even if it has been an emotional journey. It’s just better than I could ever have imagined,” Alex Sopilnik says looking around her brand new premises Alex’s Creperie in Woodstock.
A dream 15 years in the making, it’s an emotive subject. “I just haven’t had time to process it all yet, because we’ve been so busy since we opened, but I am so proud of our new business,” she adds, nodding at her husband Marek making crepes behind the colourful counter and her two daughters Olenka and Laura, there for moral support.
“Its been blood, sweat and tears to get here, but we have enjoyed every minute of it. We love our customers, they are so loyal, but look at it, we have been busy from the word go, and on the first weekend we had people queuing out of the door. Can you believe it?”
Anyone who knows Alex can, but the bright, fun, colourful interior is still a breath of fresh air, a world away from your conventional tea and coffee shops. And while crepes are her thing, whether you fancy a cup of golden chai, a slice of banana cake, a croissant or an ice cream, it really is aimed at the community.
“We want it to be somewhere you can pop in to everyday, to bring a bit of glamour, something a bit different, somewhere relaxing, a go-to,” she explains.
We’re chatting at ‘Alex’s‘ in Park View, the surrounding tables full of families eating crepes and drinking milkshakes, friends catching up, and locals enjoying a cup of coffee snd a piece of cake, as we reflect on how we first met when Alex opened juice bar Squeeze in Woodstock 15 years ago.
“I’ve been planning this ever since,” she said, Squeeze closing soon afterwards to make way for housing, as her search for a more permanent base began.
Starting off small with a gazebo making crepes at fairs, festivals, private events and gatherings, Alex’s reputation grew. A staple at Blenheim Palace events, she then invested in a food truck and bided her time for the right premises.
And while a new private housing estate may seem a novel location, with hundreds more houses being built, Alex is delighted with her spot: “We have looked at several potential venues over the years, but my heart is in Woodstock. It’s where I live and where my children go to school. So when we heard these units were coming up we jumped at the chance. We know we will be happy here. New Woodstock has got it all going on.”
Using local suppliers and artisans to furnish the cafe and supply everything from the coffee (Ue), to the cakes (Barefoot), fruit, veg and flowers (The Worthy Earth Garden Team at Blenheim Walled Garden), the personal touch is everywhere. Which means the milkshakes are made with fresh fruit not syrup, the pesto made on site and the crepes stuffed with fresh produce and made to order.
“We value every customer and want them to enjoy it here as much as we do, and we have 15 years experience behind us so we know what we’re doing,” Alex adds.
“I’m so proud of all our hard work and we aim to make a big impression. Our customers might come for the crepes but they get so much more, all served with a smile, because we’ve been planning this for a long time, so I want to do a good job of it,” she adds.
Open seven days a week, we decided to stay for lunch. Fresh banana milkshakes appearing instantly, some sterling coffees and then a variety of crepes, beautiful to behold, presentation everything here, decorated with edible flowers.
From the extensive savoury crepe menu – the pizza crepe – with pepperoni, cheddar, mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and sweetcorn (£13) (you can remove or swap any pot the ingredients you don’t fancy), the Pesto – (home-made), tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, sun-dried tomato and sweetcorn (£13), bursting with goodies, neatly folded, the crepe light and crisp but satisfyingly chewy.
The organic apple with cinnamon and sugar (£9) was equally as delicious with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, and we had to order a slice of summer fruit cake with blueberries and a sour, creamy icing.
Happy? We were! But not as happy as Alex! “Well of course,” she says as we left. “When you’ve dreamed of creating something like this for 15 years, you want to make sure it’s the place to be.” Looks like she’s in luck!
Alex’s Creperie is at 63 Cowells Road, Park View, Woodstock. OX201GB.
