Small Business

As well as this shop, Paul and his business partner run another in London’s Royal Exchange in Threadneedle Street. At the start of the year, 35-year old Paul’s exquisite chocolate creations won two gold, three silver and two bronze Academy of Chocolate awards, with delicacies such as Black Cardamom and Chinese Stem Ginger Pave, and Sea-salted Almond Rocher.

Life may be sweet for Paul at the moment, but he warns that there are no short cuts and no easy rides to be had if you want to make it in business. “Hard work, saving and then putting the money back into the business are what pays off,” says Paul. “I grew up with my mother on a council estate in a small mining town called Trimdon Station in Yorkshire and knew what it was like to have very little. There were no handouts along the way.”

Paul went on to work with Marco Pierre White as Pastry Chef, and then with Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s developing new products. It was a short step to making the decision to set up his own business.

Happily Paul kindly hands out some of his fantastic creations. He clearly gets a kick out of watching the smile his excellent chocolate puts on people’s faces. Meanwhile, the Corsa puts a smile on his. “I used to have a Corsa when I was starting out,” he says. “This one is sleek and sharp – definitely a young person’s car.”

Neither man nor woman may live by chocolate alone. It’s time we were on our way across London and across the river Thames to Borough to visit Team Grasshopper and find something a little more sustaining.