Yousif Aslam at Heavenly Desserts in Headington on why his new opening is such a sweet treat for diners

I’ve always had a sweet tooth so what better business to build than a chain of the UK’s best desert cafes. We wanted ours to be head-and-shoulders above anything else out there which drove us to never make compromises, creating and working with the best suppliers to deliver what we consider to be dessert excellence.

Heavenly Desserts started back in 2008 with a single restaurant in Birmingham. With classic desserts, it built a cult local following, yet showed all the potential to be a huge national success. From its humble birth in Birmingham I joined a team with the vision of creating a national brand that offered a contemporary, indulgent and luxury dessert experience that delivers sweet treats – that bring a smile to our visitors faces.

Our vision became a reality in 2012 when moved our luxury desert concept into the contemporary indulgent desert café experience you see today by adding a new store in the centre of Derby. The new format Heavenly Desserts proved an overnight hit and started us on a road that has since added three further stores in Leicester, Preston and Nottingham!

Now with our concept well and truly proven, we worked with experts in franchising to take Heavenly Desserts onto a national stage. Immediately after launching the opportunity in 2016, we had interest from Sheraz Rafique about joining the Heavenly Desserts family, since which we have worked closely with him to bring Heavenly Desserts to Oxford.

It was March of this year when we found our perfect home in Oxford, where we will be opening the new store on October 20th on London Road in the centre of Headington.

Our range of desserts are produced both in house and created by handpicked dessert artisans who create everything from cookie dough delicacies to heavenly, fluffy waffles.

As a complete menu, every dessert, and drink, has been researched, created and tested by our dedicated team, always maintaining the quality of the dishes and the overall experience of visiting a Heavenly Desserts café.

Having been hands on myself in the selection and refinement of our dishes, my favourite is still the classic strawberry and chocolate waffle we’ve nicknamed ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’. It’s a great dish that brings soft waffles together with two sauces, chocolate and strawberry, and topped with fresh strawberries and gelato. I love it.

The full tried-and-tested Heavenly Desserts menu will be coming to Oxford packed with all our favourites. Whether a cookie dough with Nutella, Ferrero Rocher and Heavenly Hazelnut gelato or a French crepe with raspberries drizzled with white chocolate topped with more gelato (named Guilty by Suspicion). Perhaps it’s a classic Victoria sponge, chocolate fondant or a handmade French artisan cake slice. Whatever you choose, we aim to make them all picture perfect and transport you to pudding paradise!

Where would a dessert be without a drink? We’ve spent equally as much time and effort on our drinks menu. From the fresh coffees and artisan teas, to mouth-watering milkshakes and mocktails – and for those needing a further sweet boost, I’d recommend the Nutella shot.

I genuinely believe this will be the best desserts Oxford has tasted yet. With Oxford’s rich history along with Headington’s community spirit I’m confident that Heavenly Desserts will bring something completely new to Oxford’s food and drink scene.

Our official opening day on October 20 marked a huge milestone, yet for me it is also the start of a much longer journey as we become part of the fabric of Oxford and Headington. We are filled with nothing but optimism for what is coming next. Heavenly Desserts.

  • 73 London Road, Headington, Oxford
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