Ian Prust Heavenly Pizza BromsgroveI first approached jay after some on line research and was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm, knowledge and obsession with the street food concept. He was, and remains very supportive and is always there when a bit of "insight" is needed from the "start up".
The product he makes and sells is second to non and his network within the sector is immense.
I have been blown away by the comments I receive, you would think the oven has come form outer space when people see it operating!!!!
Many thanks for all the support Jay and long may your Dingley Dell dangle!
Maxine Owner Maxines Mobile Pizza Derbyshire & ManchesterGetting my oven built by Dingley-Dell has been the best decision i have made! Its looks fantastic and attracts lots of attention and so too do the pizzas I cook. The cooking times are quick and simple and people just love to watch their pizza cooking away while they wait.
The support I received from Jay, right from the start, has been fantastic. I have an excellent oven, good quality equipment and someone there on hand should I have any questions - not to mention a helping hand with some recipes I wasn't even aware off! Your little 'hints 'n' tips' have been really useful and relevant!
Thank you so much Jay, its been a real pleasure and I wish Dingley-Dell has continued success in the future!
Stephanie Van DoughThanks Jay for all your help along the way - you've been a font of knowledge and have always been on the end of the phone to answer and questions! Your help has made the whole scary process of starting up a new business that little bit easier. We're so pleased with the oven, it works incredibly, looks the part and is so efficient. We couldn't be happier, and I will recommend you to anyone wanting to buy a wood-burning oven.
Mark Godfrey Managing Director Deer Park DevonWow!!! what an amazing piece of Kit our new wood fired oven is, the team at Deer Park still cannot quite believe we have such a fabulous new outdoor cooking area that can be used for weddings, parties, celebrations and corporate entertaining, it is a great new USP for us and has helped to convert 4 weddings already!
Jay has been superb, from our original meeting at Dartmouth Food and Wine festival to the installation he was always available for advice and assistance…I must say if I was buying another I would definitely pay the extra to have him install it!!
The days training with Jay was excellent, extremely informative, hands on and gave Chef and his team some great top tips! All in all we are very pleased with the Oven, the service and Jays commitment to his customer, a great experience!
Jon The Walled Garden MellsStarting a new business is terrifying at the best of times, particularly in today's climate (both economic and atmospheric) with lots of scary decisions to make, more demands for money than opportunities to make it, like one way financial osmosis. When we decided to bring a wood-fired oven into our garden nursery/cafe business it was a very short time period between making that decision and installing your oven, ready to work. The few weeks in between were made much easier because of the clear and honest advice we received from you up to and beyond the point of receiving the pallets with the dome and base.
I was very impressed with the pre-sale session you provided at your workshop, even when, half way through, it was clear that we did not have as much cash to spend as maybe some of your other clients. You adjusted your approach but I still felt we were taken as seriously as a potential client with much more money to spend. Secondly, the supporting booklet you provided outlining your trailer-based business model which we received on payment of the deposit proved invaluable in getting us up to speed quickly and without fuss. It is clear, concise and precise throughout and is a brilliant document. Although our model is quite different, nothing in the supporting literature is dogmatic and you are constantly clear that the information you provide is just a model that has worked for you, which left us free to experiment to fit our site and circumstance but still to trust the information in your supporting documents.
Despite the continuing poor summer, our business is doing ok and the addition of the oven has added exactly the dimension to our business and site that we hoped for, but didn't really expect. And that's with only running it for approximately 17 hours a week (private bookings are picking up well though). It was still a lot of work from receiving the pallets from you to serving our first meal from the oven, but worth every minute and I don't think we could have done any better with another supplier. To sum up; the pre-sales session at your workshop, the manual/booklet you provided and the quick and clear response to any subsequent query have been the 'over and above' points that raise the level of service above that I'd expect of any other supplier. Those points, plus the fact that the oven itself works brilliantly, looks fantastic and, as a tool, is a pleasure to use as any well made craft tool should be is why Ive taken the time to write this.
Alan Coby Owner Galleon Beach Cafe PolzeathAfter only 5 Weeks, This week my weekly revenue from Pizzas from my Dingley Dell Wood Fired Oven exceeded the TOTAL Cost of the Oven and Total Installation Costs. It also generated higher revenues from "Booze" We are now selling in excess of 60+ Pizzas per day (and increasing) with a GP in excess of 80%"
Daniel Popa Owner Pizza SoleLuna HeadingtonYour product is really great and i'am really happy that i chose your oven. When i first came to see you, i wasn't sure if i wanted to start this kind of business, but after i talked to you and seen your enthusiasm and your confidence, i realised that i am on the right path.
I would like to share my experience with other people and in the same time, let them know if they will go for Dingley Dell oven they will get the best oven on the market, but in the same time a full package of information and support. I remember having a few problems with Council and with different people, but i was supported by your experience and confidence. The best feedback came from my customers, telling me how tasty is the pizza and how professional looks the van. For all this, i want to say a big thank you to Jay and all his team from Dingley Dell and hopefully we will collaborate in the future as well. If you want to start a business i will definitely recommend Jay and his products.
Neil Barclay Owner Woodbox KemptownI began to work with Jay very early in the concept stage of Woodbox and his input in those early stages was invaluable, both in the shaping of the concept, and the design of our vehicle. We're over the moon with the oven he built for us & it has been a huge success and we feel totally confident with it's performance.
Jay's continued after sales support and advice is both personal and utterly professional and with so many other things to think about with our business, one less worry is knowing Jay is at the end of the phone and always available to help and advise on any problems that may come up"
Wendy Rowland Amore-PizzaI am writing to thank you for you for all your help and advise you gave me from day one. With all your support in me starting a new business from helping me with advise for my business plan to helping me with my Dough balls.
I have never met someone with so much knowledge on Mind Maps. I never even heard of them till I met you. I don't think you could get anymore information on them, from all the information from electric supply to making sure about napkins (great) .
From day one with the day out to look at the different trailers and tasting the fantastic Brie, caramelised onion and Courgette Pizza it sold it straight a way with me.
I found that your not someone who works 9 till 5 you are at the end of the phone 7 days a week!. which was brilliant help .
Even though I am a women with not alot of knowledge on handyman jobs on my trailer Jay I could pick the phone up and you helped!.
The training days at the private party and at Ludlow Food and Drink were FANTASTIC... The best and a must do with anyone who is buying a trailer.
I shall look forward to dealing with you again in the near future when I can afford my second unit...
BIG Thank you
Kenny Scott CEO Lafavorita Delivered ScotlandOne of the biggest challenges to the national growth of La Favorita Delivered is ensuring we consistently deliver a quality authentic pizza, which is why our oven remains key to our success and one of the single most important investments we’re likely to make.
We have invested a great deal of time and money to develop our unique dough, so it’s only right that we use the best ovens on the market to make the best pizza (Winner of Scotland’s Best Pizza 2014 at the Italian Awards).
We feel extremely fortunate to have Jay Emery of Dingley Dell in our corner, the authority on pizza ovens, all round wonderful guy and affectionately known as our secret weapon! He is responsible for the design and creation of our tremendous ovens, which continue to exceed our exacting standards and high expectations. Not to mention the rather unbelievable time scale he manages to deliver them in to meet our ambitious and aggressive expansion plans.
Working with the team at Dingley Dell is a pleasure and we could not recommend them highly enough. Having worked with other suppliers in the past we can honestly say that no one understands the industry and the regulations better than Jay. We consider the Dingley Dell team as an extension to our own and can say with great confidence that engaging Jay and the team will be one of the best decisions you make.
David Lennon Dave's Wood-Fired Pizza IrelandI had trawled the Internet searching for a wood-fired pizza ovens that would be suitable for my needs. Eventually i came upon Dingley Dell and thought they looked like what i was looking for. Their ovens looked authentic plus they are made using high grade refractory materials. The first was bought for a mobile unit, it worked so well I am now on my fifth purchase! I use my ovens pretty much every day making pizzas, and breads.
The customer care is really great as any time you call Jay he always gives time to listen and advise. I have to say without doubt these are the best ovens out there at the moment."
Ian Dowson Proved wood fired pizza"Working with Dingley Dell has been a pleasure from start to finish. Jay is really friendly and is always available to help and offer advice. What’s more his ovens get great results. Proved Woodfired Pizza can’t recommend them highly enough."
Richard Appleby Director RDJ (North West Ltd)I first heard of Dingley Dell and their products while visiting another restaurant , having seen the ovens in the flesh we decided to contact them .
From our first initial contact Jay has been incredibly helpful ,even to the point of inviting us to his factory in order for us to see the manufacturing process and to see the process involved in running one of these ovens and most importantly try the pizza’s that these amazing ovens produce .
For any new or existing business the cost of such a piece of equipment can’t be underestimated and when we first realised the full cost implications we decided not to go ahead and we were happy to proceed and make the same mistake most business’s make and go for a conventional gas oven, I’m so glad Jay gave us the opportunity to try the pizza’s as from that moment we were committed and as a result we produce the best pizza in our area by a country mile, you cannot produce a pizza like this without one of Jays ovens .
Jay also provides plenty of useful after sales care , even dropping by if he’s in the area to give our chef’s tip on how to run the oven and kitchen more efficiently.
I can honestly say that Jay is the leading expert in his field and you’ve only got to speak to him to get a sense of the passion he has for the products he sells.
Richard Appleby,
Director
Joseph Chambers Wade Owner The Pizza Laundry Hassocks, SussexTwo years ago I purchased a Bushman Oven for The Pizza Laundry, my mobile van, based in Hassocks, Sussex. If you have done any research you will realise that, in my opinion, Jay's ovens are the best ovens available on the market at present. The quality of the ovens aside, the most important factor in recommending this business is Jay's input and the after sales care. Jay has run a business model very similar to most wood-fired pizza businesses, this means that he doesn't just make an amazing oven, he knows the business as well. The oven book he provides holds a wealth of information and insight and was really useful for the set up phase of the business. I have been running this business for some time now but still regularly speak to Jay to see how he is doing and chat through my plans. He's incredibly helpful and a good man to know!"
Justin Hopley Proprietor The Rustic Pizza Company WorcestershireI know it’s not good business to admit it, but as soon as I tasted my first pizza fresh from the oven I knew I was sold. I wanted one at my camp site so that our campers could experience what I had just experienced. Quite simply the best pizza I had ever tasted!
Fortunately I had my business partner with me who is more interested in finance than pizzas. He was impressed with the detail of Jay’s business model and overall proposition and was convinced it could be easily adapted to our particular market circumstances. During the preparation for the installation of the oven Tony was quick to remind me that the oven was delivered on time and to budget; the business model proved accurate and was easy to adapt; the training was first class and Jay’s feedback on our opening night and post opening support was above and beyond the call of duty.
However, I’m quick to remind him on the numerous occasions every time one of our campers comes back to say ‘That’s the best pizza I’ve ever tasted!’
Thanks Jay
Helen and Emma The Pizza OvenHelen and Emma from The Pizza Oven want to say a big thank you to you Jay for all your help. You have given us invaluable advice right from the concept of The Pizza Oven. Our trip to see you back in September was worth every minute. You have given us excellent advice from the help in the design of our van to all the top tips you gave us on our training day. Your Oven Book for anyone starting up a mobile pizza business is a start to finish guide to everything you need to know to make a successful business.
You have responded quickly and efficiently to every call and email we have sent you in the last six months. Our journey from concept to completion has been much smoother thanks to the information you have given us and the genuine care you have shown towards our success. We are thrilled with our oven and make our pizzas with the same love and passion you put into making it.
Nick Owner Pizza Monkey BristolI cannot thank you enough for all your help and guidance when buying my wood fired oven. Not only did you help with every stage of the process (including the best part – pizza tasting!) but you truly went the extra mile by taking me on a training day to see how it all works. Your approach to customer service is excellent and combined with such infectious enthusiasm you really do have your customer’s interests at heart.
Even after taking delivery of the oven your customer service does not stop there and you are always happy to help with any questions or issues I often have. The oven itself performs fantastically and gets much attention when I’m out and about, even the Italians are impressed! I wish you all the best with your business and look forward to working with you in the future.
Steve Gale Owner Flour and ash BristolSo jay is a South African, making Italian wood ovens in Gloucester. Sounds odd but this guy really knows his stuff. We bought a large bushman oven and paid for installation from jay and his team. The oven is amazing. Really efficient to run, stable holding temperatures, clean burning and more importantly for internal usage, cool external temperatures (if insulated which ours is).
Don't skimp on the installation. There is simply no way we could have got it in without him. Also use his knowledge. What installation problems this man has not overcome is not worth knowing. Buy with confidence.
Steve Gale
Flour and ash. Bristol
Caroline Ashleigh LondonWords can not express how much your seminar on Friday has helped me to develop my pizza business ideas - thankyou! A couple of hours with you sharing your great advice solved so many questions or issues I couldn't find the answers to on the internet despite researching for the last six months! Which will in turn save me thousands of unnecessary costs and reduce the stress associated with the initial start up. Following your model will save me money but also time each week! So that I can't quantify but do know it will amount to thousands over years and could be the difference between a viable business and a truly profitable business!
It's been invaluable and hugely positive knowing you are there to support me though the process. Meeting you at this 'concept' stage was the ideal time to get your advice before I'd made expensive mistakes, now I need to work out the final details and get making pizzas!!! Which thanks to your help could be very soon... Watch this space!'
Gary Wright BlackpoolI recently attended one of these seminars and found it not only informative but Jay was able to broaden my outlook and expectations of of what is achievable. It made me reconsider my business strategy and my conceptions of using a wood fired oven. I would highly recommend anyone considering purchasing one of these ovens to spend a few hours as it is certainly time well spent. Thanks again Jay for your time and I will be back in touch shortly.
B Collins LondonWow, what can i say apart from the seminar is a must for anyone considering buying a wood fired oven.
I have spent hours searching the Internet for everything there is to know about wood fired ovens (WFO) and although i had come across www.Dingley-Dell.com early on in my research i thought i had a good idea what i was doing so continued the research on my own.......silly mistake! I wasted so much time reading conflicting stories/advice in the end I called Jay and had a 10 minute conversation with him on the phone in that time i arranged to go and see him as clearly he isn't just someone who makes great quality ovens he has first had experience in doing, selling, making, marketing and most of all mentoring!! people start a WFO business.
OK so i put the phone down and within minutes i had 3 email from Jay, direction, joining instructions and a booking form. When Jay tells you the seminar is FREE you automatically think there is a catch, i can tell you honestly first hand at no point did i get pressured into placing an order. All Jay provided was information and coffee and of course fantastic Pizza. Jay's reputation in the WFO world is too good to tarnish it with under hand tactics and poor selling techniques. I spent 2 hours in a wooden office drinking coffee and talking about how best to approach a business using a WFO, what i learnt in 2 hours was so valuable there is no way you would find that level of HONEST detail on line, fact.
The speed at which Jay talks mean 2 hours is as good as 4 hours :-) (this is a good thing Jay) so the amount of information you get is amazing. DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE AS MANY NOTES AS POSSIBLE. I left the session with a pizza box full of pizza, my head spinning with great ideas and a true understanding that if you listen to Jay and let him share his experiences with you its a good route to success. I even left with new ideas on how to run a farmers market and craft fair that my girlfriend and I organise, he is a true passionate business man and a pleasure to do business with.
You don't just buy a WFO from Dingley Dell you buy service and advice, its priceless!
Gill Frankling Centre Manager Bishops Wood Centre WorcesterJay approached the team at Bishops Wood regarding building a Dome on site as a 'proof of concept' for his project for building environmentally friendly, low cost housing for townships in South Africa.
Due to the environmental and global aims of the project, Bishops Wood was extremely pleased to help.
During the building phase the Jay's team was very efficient and the site was left safe and tidy. We were kept informed throughout the process. We were continued to operate throughout the process which meant having children and vulnerable adults on site so it was vital for us to know exactly what was happening to ensure we were able to fulfil our duty of care.
It has become an inspirational indoor and outdoor teaching space linking with school programmes about sustainability, structures and global issues. It is also a multifunctional space for classes, outdoor theatre groups, weddings and management team away days.
Richard Clarke Fox & RaisinOur Dingley Dell wood fired oven is fantastic! We received great advice from Jay during the conversion of our catering van and installation of the oven. Dingley Dell's after care and commitment to making each of its customers businesses succeed is invaluable.
William and Emma Jack Owners The Richmond arms SussexWe initially visited Jay at Dingley Dell when we were looking for the best oven for our van conversion. We looked at all of the serious companies making ovens and chose Jay hands down. Jay was a massive source of information and great advice and he even had an oven fired up to give us a great demo. He offered help/ ideas and produced a design on the layout of our van which we used. After 2 years using it we would not have changed a single aspect of it…. He has continued to offer support and advice and is an all-round top bloke.
Jay is without doubt a master oven builder, his ovens are beautifully balanced, aesthetically pleasing and are very easy to use with incredible results. For us there is only one choice if you are looking for an oven.
Caoimhe O'Kane Sales Papa J's MagherafeltIt's been beyond expectations, I got off to a flying start and only now starting to 'slow' down with events. I cannot quite believe it's not even a year since I first met you in Nov '12 to check out your ovens and I am now sitting telling you how well my oven has went for me! It's a fantastic product and I am still wow'ing customers, their comments have been so rewarding and I pray this is only the start of a long and lively path for Papa J's.
I hope business is good for you. I have been meeting a lot of people who want wood burning ovens in their garden - definitely on the up with popularity! Haven't come across anyone going mobile with a wood burning oven but I am sure their will be soon enough. A massive Thank-you Jay for your dedication to my custom!
Craig Sandiford The Artisan Bakehouse Ltd ShrewsburyJust a few lines to say how pleased I am with our Large Bushman oven. Test bake is now complete and I can safely say that the heat retention is incredible. We are getting a nice even bake and a rapid recovery between loads and the oven is proving to be very efficient in its energy consumption.
Anybody reading this who is looking to buy a wood fired oven should also consider that Jay installed our oven in 20 minutes. This was a potentially hazardous exercise with the weight and access we had to the bakery. Jay completed this safely and quickly. We received full support prior to installation to prepare the area and afterwards to complete the build. Delivery was made on time and without any issue, this was down to Jay’s commitment to ensure our project went without a hitch, exceeding our expectations. His service is second to none and I have the assurance that if any advice or assistance is needed in the future, Jay is just at the end of a telephone to help.
Tim West Owner Wildwood PizzaJust a quick email to thank you for the two italian pizza peels we bought from you. Hesitated on the price but it shows, you get what you pay for.
We cannot say enough about how good they are.
Chris & Debs The CotswoldsWhat an amazingly informative seminar we attended with Jay about his Bushmen wood fired pizza ovens. Any question we had he answered with an open and honest view, giving us invaluable tips to be successful using one of his ovens. We would definitely recommend attending a seminar as it has given us the confidence to pursue this idea and include it in our next business venture. And of course you get to try freshly made pizza !
Jay & Gemma MarshThe seminar that you provided into the set up of a wood burning oven business was inspirational. Your experience and insights into the business gave me a great deal of food for thought, pardon the pun. Prior to your seminar I had many ideas but ultimately lacked a clear strategy for starting up such a business. You demonstrated in a clear staged approach the set up and ongoing business development , which was balanced and a way for me to get on with this exciting business opportunity.
Owner The Victoria Park BristolWe are a pub & kitchen based near central Bristol to the south side of the city. When we decided to install a wood burning oven in our garden we were promptly directed to Dingley Dell Enterprises by a number of sources.
After only a short period of around a week we were on our way to Kidderminster to collect our brand new oven. We decided to go for a large commercial style oven as we felt it would be the best option for us. Allowing a large amount of food to be cooked at a very high speed.
The oven is now installed in our garden & looks absolutely great with the fantastic views of south Bristol behind it.
If your looking for a similar solution to outdoor cooking you could do no better than to employ the craftsmanship of these guys. They are a pleasure to work with. Always at the end of the phone if you need advice on installation, the product looks absolutely great & the food it produces tastes even better. (With a little practice of course)
Hylton & Julie The Horseshoe Inn LedburyThought we would put pen to paper to say a big thank you to you for all your help installing a wood burning pizza oven at the Horseshoe Inn in Ledbury. We were on a very very tight schedule but you managed to build our oven and have it ready in half the time.
We all knew it wasn’t going to be an easy installation, all those steps and a very tight doorway to get it through but you managed to pull out ALL the stops to get it done! Brunel would have been proud the way you engineered getting the oven off the lorry and onto the top step - a major feat in engineering history if I have ever seen one! Putting it into place at the other end of the pub wasn’t going to be a doddle either three foot high up a wall, how much do they weigh 400k?
The oven has been a great success; it is great theatre in the pub, the customers just love to watch the pizza’s cooking and the kids are mesmerized watching the wood burn in the oven.
The staff, none of which had cooked in a pizza oven in their lives, much appreciated the in-house training, and all the tips and ideas you gave them. That first night was brilliant, we were so busy, we didn’t expect you to stay for so long and help, much appreciated. You made it look so easy, which now of course we all think it is!
I cannot recommend Jay and all at “Dingly Dell” highly enough.
Craig the Baker Maynard's Farm ShrewsburyAn oven can be seen as just a piece of equipment or the very heart of the bakery, or any kitchen for that matter. I have my heart set on a wood fired oven, traditional, sustainable and it has a certain romance about it. Many of these originate from the continent particularly Italy or France so to find a manufacturer here in the UK was always going to be attractive to me. Jay Emery is as much an Artisan as any of the food producers I have met and those I am currently working with. He fully understands the principles of his craft and get the very best out of the materials he is using. He is very much into the principle of “don’t take my word for it, come and see for yourself. “An invitation to meet him at his production site was impossible to resist.
Dan McTiernan of the Handmade Bakery writes in “Kneed to Know” by the Real Bread Campaign, ” We have a kitchen table rule with business partners and customers, which is to say that we only work with people we would be happy to invite into our home and share food with round the kitchen table, this has stood us in good stead so far! “
Fantastic guidance, unfortunately impossible for me with the Cornish toddlers who turn every mealtime into a pitch battle for control of the cutlery, usually resulting a food fight where there can be no winner. Not good for business. My mantra is adapted to “would I buy them a beer, G & T, Red Wine or Egg Nog at my local Inn.”
Jay Emery is a larger than life character, South African in origin he speaks with that unique style that projects the authority of someone who has toiled in the blazing sun so he bloody well knows what hard work is. ( Incidentally our local vicar is South African and used to Farm Tobacco and Maize,he has the same air about him.) His enthusiasm for what he does is infectious. The efficiency of his oven is second to none which will not only keep my costs to a minimum but enable us to produce a truly authentic Artisan product to the very highest standard. The added benefit of this UK manufactured product is the wealth of experience that Jay has had dealing with other Artisan Producers that is readily available when you may need to call upon his expertise. The buying motives for the oven are straight forward economics but would I buy Jay a beer? Definitely……
Mandy S LondonAfter visiting with Jay at his workshop and taking part in his pizza business seminar, I can say that I was very impressed with his knowledge with regard to the pizza business. His experience is extensive and entrepreneurial spirit is inspiring. Jay takes great pride in his product and it shows. His ovens look great and get great performance reviews. It is definitely worth the time and effort to visit and hear what he has to say!'
I'll be in touch...
Llian Norman Proprietor Tipizza WalesI thought it was time to email you an update of how we have been getting on with our wood-fired oven that we purchased off you in December 2012.
Well after trading hard and fast from April to the end of August we have had a great Time trading and travelling the length and breadth of Wales with our oven. We have managed to get ourselves into the Royal Welsh which was great 4 day event a few small festivals and Agricultural shows, and at one event we managed to sell 400 pizzas in a day and still not reaching our full Capacity, we just know we can do more if we hit the right event and trading times... On a good day were we have lunch and evening trade we quite easily manage 300 pizzas.....
So what can I say !!!
All I can say is thank you for a great little oven that we love and travel with most weekends it has brought us great fun, a lovely little business with lots of laughter and room for expansion and growth.... Although we have only been trading since April this year we feel that we have a great little business that we do have plans for future development.
We followed your advice and guidance that has lead us to having a successful first year so thank you so much and I do hope that I meet you again in the future when I purchase my next oven when we are ready to grow which I'm hoping will be sooner rather than later. Without your support, wise words of advice, and guidance we would have never been able to produce so many pizzas at an event during the lunch time / evening trading.....
Please feel free to look at our website www.tipizza.co.uk and to point people in our direction if you know of anybody looking for wood-fired pizzas in Wales...
Once again thank you and I do hope that we are in touch again in the future
Ian Rolf Pizza Of Dreams CookhamAfter spending several years building my Mobile Woodfired Pizza business on the Festival and Wedding scenes, I had started to receive lots of interest in our quirky approach, operating from a converted vintage Rice Horse Trailer and latterly from my 1965 Citroen H Van.
Having worked with the organiser of the Penn Festival for two years we had built a level of trust and respect and we began discussions to bring Wood Fired Pizza to his Community based Café in the village of Cookham, positioned in a beautiful part of the Berkshire countryside by the Thames.
Next our attention turned to the centrepiece of the new Restaurant, the oven. One of the key things I had learned from operating from my mobile units was just how much of a selling point the oven was. This decision was to be vital in the success of the Restaurant.
After looking at lots of options from a cost/benefit point of view we came to several conclusions:
- The type of ovens I was using in my mobile Wood Fired Pizza vehicles would not be suitable (more on that later).
- The oven was not just to be a centre piece and visible to the customer, it also had to be aesthetically pleasing. We wanted something with and ‘Organic’ look and feel.
- It had to be very efficient in terms of both heat generation and removal of smoke/fumes from the oven. (We could not afford to smoke the restaurant out)
Whilst choosing ovens for my mobile operations I had looked at Dingley Dell ovens and had several discussions with Jay, who was always helpful and keen to offer his advice. For reasons of mainly weight and cost I chose to go another route. Looking back now, and having now chosen Jay to supply our oven for the Restaurant, I can say that I probably would not make the same decision with regards to my mobile ovens as I did back then.
In the intervening years between going mobile and opening the restaurant, Jay had kept in touch and this contact is something he is very good at. Consequently, when I came to selecting a supplier for the Restaurant, he was top of my list of suppliers to contact.
There are lots of suppliers out there and for many this will be the first experience of choosing an oven and supplier. Let me give you the benefit of my several years of experience.
Choose Dingley Dell and Jay every time!
Before you think ‘This is a sponsored link’ or ‘He is being paid to say this’ please hear me out.
I contacted Jay with half a mind to pick his brains and because the installation into an old building with 3 floors posed some technical and planning issues. Jay not only offered great advice and repeated phone support when dealing with officials, but he also set aside 2hrs to talk me through the options, show me around his workshops and talk me through his working methods. All for free and before I had committed to anything!
After that I was not going to go with anybody else, such was the confidence he inspired.
The deposit was paid and on the date agreed Jay and his team turned up at the appointed time with
the oven and all the necessary equipment to get it into place.
Just 2hrs later, without any real dramas (or none that Jay did not deal with effortlessly) our oven was installed and the first small seasoning fire was started.
When I mentioned earlier that with hindsight I would have chosen differently for my mobile ovens, that is because of a number of factors.
The ovens I chose from a rival manufacturer based in England were lightweight and relatively cheap, but they do have problems.
- The flue does not work properly (not a real problem outside but no good when working inside)
- They require constant repair (Of course they are being driven around in a horsebox and on a trailer, but Jay does build a mobile oven designed to withstand these rigours) I have had to have my ovens basically rebuilt every season as internal render falls away throughout the season.
- It is difficult to keep enough heat in the floor to cook effectively over several hours constant use.
Since using a Dingley Dell oven I have found the quality to be superb, the finish and form to be a thing of beauty and the cooking results are superb. We are building a reputation as making the best Pizzas around, and in large part that is due to the oven.
I can’t thank Jay enough for his excellent service and support and I am confident that if, in the unlikely event I had a problem, he would resolve it quickly and without fuss.
He knows his stuff, he has dealt with any problem you can throw at him and his ovens really are fantastic!
Tom and Laura HartsfordThank you, we found the seminar very helpful and informative. We came with a list of questions, which you answered thoroughly, and we were grateful to listen to further detailed advice about how to set up and run our business successfully. You are clearly very knowledgeable in this field and your enthusiasm was infectious! We enjoyed sampling a couple of pizzas and seeing the oven in operation. We have come away from the seminar with a better understanding of how to move our business idea to the next stage and look forward to working with you in the future.
Nicholas Thexton Owner Stable Hearth Wood-Fired Foods and Artisan Pizzeria GainfordI met Jay of Dingley Dell Enterprises in April 2013 after intially speaking to him on the phone (for some time may I add!) with the view to opening a wood fired food business. Since our first conversation in March 2013 I can honestly say that I have never once questioned my decision in purchasing one of Jay's wood fired ovens.
When you purchase an oven off Jay you don't just get a fantastic Bushman oven, you also get your own personal helpline from Jay himself. It's been a relief to have been able to set up my new wood fired food business; Stable Hearth, and know that I can call on Jay's expertise to answer any questions I have, or to solve any operational problems or queries that I may have!
That's the good thing about dealing with Dingley Dell; Jay is not just an oven maker, he is also an owner/operator of a wood fired pizza operation and he doesn't just cut you off once he has sold you an oven. He's prepared to supply you with an oven that meets your requirements and business needs. He knows the pit falls and positives of running a business that is centred around suppling a product from a wood fired oven and you can call upon him at any time afterwards for his expertise in this matter. For anyone looking to purchase a WFO I would definitely advise them to speak to Jay as he could stop you regretting and making a bad decision..... and if you go to one of his seminars then prepare for it by taking the time in writing down all your queries and questions that you may have on running a business and oven in this specialised food service sector of the hospitality industry.
As for his oven, I am currently running a medium sized oven in my business the quality of the oven matches and compliments the quality of the food that Stable Hearth is providing our customers. The oven is a focal point that our customers see when they walk in, and its been a rewarding experience to be able to cook on it."
Andy and Alison Packman Packman Pizza Co OffalyWhen we decided to set up our mobile pizza business, we knew it was going to be tough and a steep learning curve. However, after meeting Jay in November 2012 for a demonstration of the Bushman Wood Fired Oven, we were confident that with a lot of hard work, we could make this dream a reality.
Jay was at the end of the phone if we had a question – and it was never a problem to give him a call about anything, big or small.
At our launch party in April, Jay was 110% hands on from start to finish. The knowledge we gained in the 7 hours we were with Jay was invaluable. You couldn’t afford to buy that information! And we were exhausted!
Twelve weeks on from our first event and Packman Pizza going from strength to strength. We couldn’t have done it without the continued support and enthusiasm from Jay.
Happy Days!
Johnathan Dandy WorcestershireThe spirit of the veldt flourishes in Worcestershire! We’re relative newbies to the mobile catering game but have a vision and passion for our business. I don’t think our ideas were entirely set in stone, but we knew what we wanted.
Enter Jay Emery – pizza aficionado and larger than life South African bushman who knows all the ups and downs of the pizza business. Jay was very generous with his time and knowledge, and we came away enriched with new ideas. He gave us a full demonstration of his hand-made ovens – the results tasted great!
Thanks Jay, for showing us some different thinking.
Jeremy Scott WalesThanks for the invite to the seminar last week. I really enjoyed my visit to the farm and it was great to see your Bushman wood fired oven in action! Besides the delicious pizza, which was worth the trip by itself, it was great to have an open discussion about my business ideas and what the next steps could be and should be. Since my visit and seeing the Bushman Wood Fired Oven in action, I'm more than happy to 'champion' the cause for your products!
Mark Verney PizzaViaHi Jay,I hope that this is what you are after,and that the many people who spend countless hours talking to me about the oven at festival sdo,in the end contact you,and remember to let you know who it was who sent them to you.Last year I purchased from Jay at Dingley Dell a Mobile Pizza Oven.Jay fitted this to a trailor for me and was very happy to produce a product to my specifications,to whit an oven that was clearly visable and not one clad and covered in a catering unit this has prooved a good draw,many people coming to the stall because of the look of the oven.Jay has always been most helpful and keen to get feedback on the performance of the oven and has also been able to assist in many other ways with advice.The thermal properties of the oven are very good,it is easy to use,versitile and after about 8,000 miles of trailoring around the country, many hours of burn time;it is still in a very fair condition.I have recommened his products to many interested parties and shall continue to do so.
Jonathan MacDonald Managing Director Scoop events GlasgowFrom my first telephone conversation with Jay it was clear he was a fountain of knowledge on all things wood burning oven! Jay interpreted our requirements to a T. We were tight on time and Jay manufactured the oven and had it mounted on the trailer ready for collection very quickly as promised. Everyone loved the training, Jay’s enthusiasm was infectious and all of the guys gained so much knowledge from working with him for the day. The oven looks fantastic and we can’t wait to get it out on its first proper event!”
Fede and Julia Ricci Owners Federicci Ltd KentWe wanted to write and say a huge thank you for all the help and advice you have given us in setting up our new mobile pizza business. We thoroughly enjoyed the introductory workshop - your energy and enthusiasm really fired us up and your knowledge of the business along with all the tips and suggestions you made gave us the confidence we needed to get started.
The layout you suggested for the van has worked very well and we really appreciate your input from conception through to completion, including liaising with Towability on the conversion and your after sales service with all the follow up to our many questions!
And finally, your start-to-finish guide has been invaluable, and we still find ourselves referring to it whenever we are doing something new for the first time; from quoting for a wedding to making caramelised onions! You have thought of everything and made all the mistakes for us – enabling us to start making a profit from day one.
If you have been in the UK long enough, you will remember a TV advert for Remington electric shavers. Victor Kiam was so impressed, he bought the company! Well, maybe not the company, but we enjoyed coming back to talk to you about buying a second Bushman oven as we look to grow our business.
Thanks again for all your help and support.
Danny Hughes and David Job LondonThank you for an excellent seminar. We loved your passion, incredible knowledge and generosity in sharing the wealth of experience that you have obviously built up over the years. The honesty idea was inspirational. The ovens are absolute gems both in terms of functionality and aesthetics. We are currently at the stage of assessing the opportunities in our locality, putting together the necessary funding and comparing options in terms of the appropriate infrastructure for us. Thank you again for your time, generosity and energy. Feel free to use our comments to promote your workshops... and if you wish us to go into more detail do not hesitate to ask. I am sure we will meet again. Good luck with all of your enterprises
Bryony Owner The Well Kneaded WagonWe at Well Kneaded have been delighted with our Dingley Dell oven. It looks fantastic and works extremely well and it constantly draws people to our Citroen H van. Jay himself came to London to help us on the day of our launch. He showed us how to get the oven working to its best, helped us iron out any problems and then worked with us for the entire day. The smooth running of the day was definitely thanks to Jay. Jay has constantly been on the end of the phone to answer our endless questions and has given us invaluable information about the running of a pizza business. We are thrilled with our Dingley Dell oven and can't recommend them and the service that comes with them more highly.
Geoff Hunt Founder Munch Surrey & LondonJay has been fantastic from start to finish.
Jay and Bushman Ovens came highly recommend from the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) and it's clear to see why.
The first conversations with Jay were less sales pitch and more consultancy services. With questions like: what is it you want to achieve with your business; where do you want to cater; what events do you want to cater at; how do you want to cater? Further, the advice went much further to include general business set up as well as the more oven-centric advice.
I went for the medium no-frills oven with many extras, including the rotating base which I would highly recommend. At some event's we've had the trailer pointing in a crazy direction and the oven mouth pointing right where we needed it to, priceless.
All the way through the sales process, delivery and now after sales help and advice has been amazingy helpful and testament to Jay's passion for Pizza's and business mentorship. Had a couple of queries with the oven and Jay always replied swiftly and with useful information. Hugely appreciated.
If you work with Jay, you won't be disappointed! 5 *s!
Regards,
Geoff"
Elena Lengthorn Eco-Schools, GLP and Charities Co-ordinator Nunnery Wood High School Nunnery WoodOur “World Classroom”, as our low cost dome home has come to be known, still wows our students and visitors! Our unique space has been used for external events such as Eco-Schools conferences and Global Learning Programme workshops. It is embedded, as a bookable teacher and community resource, in our school life as a space for learning experiences outside the traditional classroom. Our International club entertained our South African link school visitor in the dome with a traditional cream tea this February and shared stories of our different education systems. It has been used to run student workshops on biodiversity, host drama lessons, meditation sessions and a whole raft of curriculum based learning whilst offering a distinctly different experience.’ Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need something further!
Kind Regards,
Elly
Nick Higgs Owner Pizza Monkey BristolI cannot thank you enough for all your help and guidance when buying my wood fired oven. Not only did you help with every stage of the process (including the best part – pizza tasting!) but you truly went the extra mile by taking me on a training day to see how it all works.
Your approach to customer service is excellent and combined with such infectious enthusiasm you really do have your customer’s interests at heart.
Even after taking delivery of the oven your customer service does not stop there and you are always happy to help with any questions or issues I often have.
The oven itself performs fantastically and gets much attention when I’m out and about, even the Italians are impressed.
I wish you all the best with your business and look forward to working with you in the future.
Kind regards
Mark Wolff Owner Mr Wolfs Noodles and Nosh Ltd. Stoke CroftRemember when you buy a Dingly Dell Pizza oven. You are buying a handmade oven made with passion and love. Once they leave the farm. I Jay gives them all a name. Please be warned that once they leave him, he will check up on them. He will want to make sure you are running it in correctly, and you return the same love and devotion to the oven, as he has given to them when they are built. Just be warned if he finds out if you are not using it correctly he will visit you, help you, make food with you, and inspire you. If you still fail in getting the same reward out of the oven that is loyal followers have. He will Asbo you, he will not allow you out after dark, until you learned that this wood burning oven, is pure heaven to work with.
Deb and Dewi Owners Pizza WheelsI just wanted to let you know that we're having a great time with our oven and van! We're still kitting the van out, but we've done a couple of low-key parties for family and friends and I think we're nearly there. Still can't match the 45 second pizza though!
I hope we'll be fully up and running in a couple of months, but in the meantime we just wanted to thank you again for all your help and advice in setting up!
Best wishes and many thanks
Felina Matilda's Bake HouseI had my oven built by Dingley Dell and I'm so glad I did, it is exactly how i had imagined it, and the level of suppport and additional information and support is amazing. Really a top class business, i can't recommend them highly enough!
Sat Bains Chef Proprietor Restaurant Sat Bains - Awarded 2 Michelin Stars NottinghamTo win two Michelin stars you can't compromise on anything. That's why I chose to work with Bushman Wood Fired Ovens..
I am a very demanding person. You have to be if you want to create really exceptional food. A state of the art commercial kitchen is a must. But to push flavour to the limit and to teach my staff how to combine ultra modern cooking techniques with ancient cooking methods seemed to be a logical step forward.
I have known Jay Emery, the Founder of Bushman Wood-Fired Ovens since 2009.
In his field he is just as inventive and demanding as I am. Maybe even more so!Our first joint exercise was to design and build a small wood burning oven that would sit in our kitchen garden next to our Development Kitchen and allow our guests to savour the amazing flavour of wood fired aubergines, baked apples and luscious slow cooked meat dishes. This was a whole new aspect to flavour.
This proved to be very popular with guests and it taught us just how flexible wood fired cooking could be. The next step was to work with Jay and his team to design and build a larger wood fired oven to integrate into our main kitchen. This was no easy task. Space was tight. We didn’t want to add any extra heat to the cooking environment and so we needed a radical solution.
By removing an existing window and mounting the belly of the oven outside the building we managed to minimise the extra heat inside the kitchen.
Great kitchens must be spotless at all times and so Bushman developed an ingenious method of removing all the ash from the back of the oven without any mess coming into the main kitchen. I loved that!
But the really crucial thing to understand about what our two Bushman Wood-Fired Ovens have brought to my restaurant is that it allows me and my staff to offer guests the best of both worlds – a combination of modern and ancient cooking techniques where we can maximise flavours in a highly innovative and very efficient manner.
Bushman Wood-Fired Ovens have brought a whole exciting new dimension to my restaurant. The critics seem to agree that we are pushing gourmet cooking in very interesting directions.
In the following recipes, which have all been developed using Bushman Wood-Fired Ovens you will find a whole new world of flavours and have a lot of fun making them.
Bon Appetit.
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