A young entrepreneur will ‘test the waters’ with a weekly pizza night in Haverfordwest next month (February 2025).
Rachael Popplewell, who runs Curiosity Kitchen, will host Friday Night Pizza, with the first official event taking place on February 7 from 5pm to 8pm.
Friday Night Pizza will give locals the chance to try Neapolitan pizza while embracing a night out in town.
Rachael will serve a range of Neapolitan-style pizza. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
All pizza at Curiosity Kitchen is homemade. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
A soft launch for Friday Night Pizza is on January 31. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
A sample menu for the event. (Image: Rachael Popplewell) Rachael said: “I’m planning to open a restaurant in the future, so this is the first step. It’s a good way for me to test the waters. I’ve spent months perfecting my Neapolitan pizza recipe, staying true to my goal of always producing the best possible version.
“My vision is to create Neapolitan pizzas that not only honour the classic flavours but also incorporate the Curiosity Kitchen twist—a signature element of everything I do. As with all my food, the pizzas will be handmade, artisan, and crafted with care.
“So far, the excitement when I mention Neapolitan pizza has been incredible—far greater than for the pizza al taglio I currently serve in the shop. It feels like the right time to introduce something fresh and special to the local food scene.”
Rachael opened Curiosity Kitchen in March 2024 and believes Haverfordwest could benefit from more evening options.
She continued: “With Haverfordwest cautiously on the up, and new venues like Waldo’s adding to the evening economy, I’m curious to see if there’s scope for more evening events in town. However, it’s been an incredibly tough journey starting this business here.
“The bridge works have been a major obstacle, and my unit has its own challenges: no door to protect from the cold, no toilet, and very limited seating. Despite these hurdles, I’ve always worked well in small spaces and achieved great things.
“Neapolitan pizza, in particular, is something that can be executed beautifully even with limited space and capacity.”
A Neapolitan-style pizza with mushrooms. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
Rachael wants to open a restaurant in the future. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
All Rachael’s pizza’s are artisan and crafted with care. (Image: Rachael Popplewell)
Locals can book a timeslot, preorder or just show up at Friday Night Pizza. (Image: Rachael Popplewell) After initially planning to close Curiosity Kitchen this month (January 2025), Rachael decided to remain open for her regular customers.
“I was anticipating a quiet period. Instead, I decided to channel my efforts into something new and exciting for Haverfordwest—something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
“That’s how the idea for Friday Night Pizza came to life. My aim was to create something locals could look forward to during the cold and dark winter months, helping to lift spirits after the January slump.
“People can book a timeslot, preorder or just show up. I have a couple of seats for people to come along, sit and enjoy the food.”
For more information about Friday Night Pizza, go to the Curiosity Kitchen website or Facebook page.