Molly’s Café & Deli has fast become a staple of Hillsborough, a cosy spot where regulars drop in for their morning caffeine fix, a catch-up, or a quiet moment with a book. But behind the scenes, something much bigger has been simmering away in their kitchen.
What started as a simple lockdown pivot – offering cheeseboards and charcuterie platters for delivery – has grown into a full-scale outside catering business, feeding up to 1,000 people a week and supplying some of Sheffield’s biggest names.
“We started off with our cheese and charcuterie boards, with a bit of a Polish twist,” co-owner Lucy Poplawski explains. “Pete, my husband, makes them all. It’s not just a normal cheeseboard – there’s something a little bit different about it.”
Word spread quickly, and soon people were asking for larger versions for family gatherings, then weddings, then corporate events. “It just got bigger and bigger. Now we do up to 350 people at a time, and some of the boards stretch out to these incredible graze tables.” explains Lucy.
Despite their rapid growth, Molly’s catering business is still very much defined by its personal touch. The food itself is refined and aesthetically stunning, offering a welcome contrast to the usual sad buffet fare of curled-up sandwiches and uninspired pastries. “We’re not the kind of buffet where you’ll get dry triangle sandwiches,” Lucy says. “Even if it’s a five-person board meeting or a 200-person wedding, you’ll get the same quality – artisan cheeses, homemade sausage rolls, fresh fruit, and Polish delicacies you might not have tried before.”
This dedication to detail has attracted an impressive roster of clients. “We do a lot for universities, hospitals, biotech firms, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the council… even Disney, when they come across the pond,” Lucy says. “We do events for up to 1,000 people a day, but it’s all tailored to each client.”
It’s all been built almost entirely through word of mouth – and the feedback speaks for itself. “I love it when we’re delivering a work lunch and people walk in and say, ‘Yes! We’ve got Molly’s again!’ It really perks the team up.”
“Some of the boards stretch out to these incredible graze tables.”
As much as they’ve thrived in catering, the heart of Molly’s remains in Hillsborough. “Having a café gives people confidence in what we do,” Lucy says. “We get people coming from Nottingham, Leeds, all over, saying, ‘I want you for my wedding, but I want to try something first.’ And we say, ‘Yeah, come in, have a coffee on us, try a cheeseboard.’ Meeting us first makes a big difference.”
The past year has been particularly tough for Lucy and Pete, balancing the demands of a booming business with personal challenges. “In the last seven months, we’ve had a newborn, I gave birth the same weekend as three weddings, and then my dad passed away,” Lucy shares. “He was the life and soul of the café – a decorator by trade, so his touches are everywhere in the café. He was also a baker so half of his recipes are in what we do. He’d be so proud of how far it’s come.”
That’s part of the reason they’re finally shouting about what they do. “We’ve been flying under the radar, but we’ve got weddings booked till the end of 2026. The catering side is 75% of our business now, and with everything changing in April, so many businesses going under, you have to be forward-thinking. We’ve got something special here – it’s time to tell people about it.”
@mollyscafeanddeli
Bookings and Info:
Email mollyscafedeli@gmail.com with event details, dietary requirements, and contact info. A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your date. Gluten-free and vegan options available (+£4pp).
