Soulmade, in Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth, is described as a ‘Basque cheesecake atelier combined with a café experience’.
Nur Kurt and Ozzy Celik (Image: Soulmade)
It was launched by husband-and-wife duo, Ozzy Celik and Nur Kurt, and born from a passion project.
During the Covid-19 lockdown Ozzy fell in love with baking, with Nur describing his bakes as “amazing”.
After specialising in authentic Spanish-style Basque cheesecakes, the couple took the leap to open a café.
Soulmade (Image: Soulmade)
“I saw a gap in the market for freshly baked cheesecakes,” said Nur.
“Many desserts today are mass-produced, but we wanted to create something handcrafted, less sugary, and balanced in flavour.”
She added: “We spent three months perfecting the recipe to achieve the ideal balance of a creamy, almost molten centre with a beautifully caramelized exterior.”
Since opening Soulmade in February last year and making the cakes fresh each morning, Nur said stock has sold out daily.
Soulmade (Image: Soulmade)
“We feel fortunate since day one to have regular customers,” said Nur.
“We are so happy to see the same and new faces.”
Soulmade offers its classic flavours of Lotus Biscoff, Dubai chocolate and Crème de Brulé, but also routinely include new variations.
Customers can order full cheesecakes for special occasions two days in advance.
Soulmade (Image: Soulmade)
As well as the Spanish-style cheesecakes, the venue serves Italian coffee, matcha, milkshakes, freshly made croissant sandwiches and melts.
Nur and Ozzy, who are from Turkey, said they wanted to include a range of cultures in their business to create a space where everyone belongs.
Soulmade was inspired by the idea that creativity requires part of the artist’s soul to be put into their work, said Nur.
“For us, it’s not just about selling cheesecake, it’s about creating something meaningful for the Bournemouth community,” she said.
The couple transformed the former bank unit in just three months and are now open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm.
However, Nur said they plan to open for longer in the future to become a late-night dessert venue and extend their outdoor seating.
She said the dream is for Soulmade to become a franchise with several sites.
Soulmade can be found in 52 Holdenhurst Road.