A dream built in Rome!

We work with so many amazing and inspirational independent business owners and Ross and Camille Oliver of The Rustic Crust in Farnsfield, have shown such great innovation, passion and drive to get their new business off the ground at a challenging time and make it a success.

It might not have been what Ross and Camille had imagined when they set out to expand their already successful and very popular pizza business and they can’t wait to be welcoming people into their brand new beautifully designed pizzeria once again. But, for now their passion and determination runs on stronger than ever and the people of Nottinghamshire are still enjoying delicious Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.

From Rome to Nottinghamshire and beyond!

Their journey so far!

After a trip to Rome and discovering just how tasty and delicious pizzas can be, Ross and Camille set out to create a ‘REAL’ handmade pizza. In 2007 they built their first pizza oven in their garden and set out to perfect the art of dough-making. For over seven years their delicious pizza creations were enjoyed by their family and friends before they deciding it was time to share their passion with a wider audience and The Rustic Crust was born.

In 2014 the couple started serving their authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven in their fabulous converted Land Rover defender named 'Poppy' and worked hard to make the new business a success.

Three months later Ross decided to quit his job as a web designer and Camille left her job at B&Q to pursue their dream.

The Rustic Crust built up a fantastic reputation for its fresh Neapolitan style pizzas and friendly and professional service. It became popular with corporate events and caters for around 50 weddings a year and has earnt recognition as a regional finalist in the Wedding Industry Awards, for three years running.

They began touring Nottingham with regular pop-ups in the car park of their local Everards pub, The Brown Cow in Mansfield as well as Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and Sherwood Business Park in Annesley. They built up a following of fans who call themselves ‘pizza stalkers', which has become a social media hashtag and T-shirts with the slogan are available to purchase as part of The Rustic Crust brand.

Fans queue for up to an hour to get their hand on their hand-pushed, fresh made to order pizza. As more and more people started to ask where they could find them and showing up regularly to their pop up spots, Ross and Camille knew it was time to take the next step and provide a permanent home for their much loved pizza business.

It wasn’t easy finding the right place and location that would be suitable to bring their pizzeria dream to life and that was where the partnership with Everards began. After a year of planning Ross and Camille opened the doors to their 55 seating family-friendly pizzeria in the former Co-op, in Main Street in Farnsfield on the 10th March. They were fully booked every night and receiving raving reviews.

Just 10 days later the Government ordered businesses to close due to the coronavirus pandemic and like all other restaurant business The Rustic Crust had to close its doors. But this did not stop Ross and Camille, this innovative pair decided to take a different path and approach to their business, and came up with the idea of DIY pizza kits.

Some weeks they receive over 500 orders for their pizza kits, which come with step-by-step instructions and even an online demonstration from Ross on how best to cook your pizza.

It has been a great success and something that they plan to continue with once they can welcome people back into their beautiful pizzeria.

And who knows where Ross and Camille will take their exciting and much-loved pizza business next!

You can follow their pizza story on instagram @therusticcrust

A partnership that works

“This has all been made possible through this unique partnership Everards, an independent business who share the same values as us.

We were introduced to Everards through our relationship with our local pub The Brown Cow. We know Everards as a local brewery but didn’t release their pubs were run as independent businesses and that they also invested in property to house other businesses like ours.

We had a successful business which we wanted to take to the next level, we had several offers from other companies wanting to partner with us, but they never felt 100% right. Funding the building cost and renovation was our biggest challenge. We spoke with Everards and their partnership felt like a great opportunity for our business to progress.

They helped us to find this fantastic building which they purchased, funded and designed to our specification. As Everards say it’s our business and our vision and we had free reign to do as we wished with the design and the way we run our own business. We could never have wished for a more beautiful Pizzeria.

Ross Oliver, Business Owner of Rustic Crust

“We are delighted that we were able to help Ross and Camille to continue on their journey for The Rustic Crust. They are such a professional couple with a great vision and the personalities and can-do attitude to make it happen.

This difficult time has just proved what an innovative couple they really are, and their determination has been inspiring. This is why we love working with independent businesses to help them expand and see them grow into the successful business they deserve to be.”

Dave Pawson, Everards

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Are you ready to take the next step with your business, like Ross and Camille expanding on their fantastic mobile pizza business by opening their own pizzeria?

We'd love to chat!

If you would like to find out more about owning your own independent business and working with us to make it happen, then give the team a call on 0116 201 4260 or leave us a message

Here's a building that we believe has potential for something a little different; Cafe / Pub opportunity in Histon