Introduction
In the heart of Haverfordwest, a quiet culinary revolution had been brewing. Tucked away at Unit 17a on Riverside Quay, Curiosity Kitchen emerged in early 2024 as more than just a place to grab a bite—it was a celebration of food, creativity, and community. But as of March 2025, this much-loved eatery made headlines for reasons no one had anticipated: its owner announced a temporary but heartfelt closure.
This article delves deep into the journey of Curiosity Kitchen—from its ambitious opening and raving reviews to its soulful farewell. For those searching for insights about the Curiosity Kitchen closure Haverfordwest, menu highlights, customer experiences, and the story behind the decision, this comprehensive look will offer everything you need to know.
From Market Stalls to Riverside Quay: The Birth of Curiosity Kitchen
Before Curiosity Kitchen had a storefront, it had a presence.
The brand began humbly, operating from local farmers’ markets in Pembrokeshire, selling handmade artisan goods—from sweet bakes to focaccia sandwiches. Founded by local food entrepreneur Rachael Popplewell, the concept of Curiosity Kitchen was simple: serve food that is honest, bold in flavor, and rooted in craftsmanship.
When the opportunity came to take over a permanent location at Riverside Quay in Haverfordwest, Rachael grabbed it with both hands. On 1 March 2024, the doors officially opened, signaling a new chapter not just for Rachael, but for Haverfordwest’s food scene.
A Menu with Meaning: What Curiosity Kitchen Served
One look at the Curiosity Kitchen menu and it became clear this wasn’t your standard café.
Rachael brought her full creative flair into the kitchen, serving an ever-evolving menu that featured:
Pizza al taglio – Roman-style rectangular pizzas, sold by the slice.
Handmade focaccia sandwiches – With fillings like Korean sticky chicken, vegan harissa chickpea, and more.
Signature bakes – Including gooey brownies, chewy cookies, and traybakes that blurred the line between cake and art.
Celebration cakes – Bespoke bakes made to order.
Hearty artisan baps – A rotating menu that catered to all dietary needs, including vegan and gluten-free options.
This dynamic, flavor-packed offering turned Curiosity Kitchen into a local favorite almost overnight. It became a place for brunch catch-ups, casual lunches, and takeaway treats that felt anything but ordinary.
A Local Darling: What the Reviews Said
If word of mouth is the best marketing, then Curiosity Kitchen didn’t need a billboard.
On Tripadvisor, Curiosity Kitchen earned a perfect 5.0-star rating, with glowing praise from locals and visitors alike. One reviewer described the food as:
“Flavours, colours and fab food… Everything is made by hand, the flavours are amazing and the food is attractive and very colourful.”
Another happy customer wrote:
“What a cracking little place… I had the focaccia sandwich… stuffed with flavour… very reasonable prices.”
Other review platforms echoed the same enthusiasm:
Sluurpy: 100/100 based on 62 scoring parameters.
Google Reviews (via Wanderlog): Praise for the “epic” food and inviting atmosphere.
Food Hygiene Rating: Awarded a strong 4-star rating in April 2024 by the Food Standards Agency.
Customers didn’t just love the food—they admired the vibe, the friendliness, and the genuine sense of local pride that radiated from every interaction.
A Vision Beyond Food: Supper Clubs and Community Roots
What made Curiosity Kitchen truly unique was Rachael’s community-centered vision.
This wasn’t a café that wanted to serve and close shop. Rachael envisioned a dynamic space that could host supper clubs, quiz nights, themed events, and eventually expand into a larger venue. She regularly connected with her followers on social media, often sharing behind-the-scenes looks, upcoming specials, and sneak peeks into her culinary experiments.
The business was deeply embedded in the community fabric. It supported local producers, used eco-friendly packaging, and built a tribe of loyal fans through honest, open communication and damn good food.
A Sudden Pause: The Announcement of Closure
Then came the post.
In March 2025, just a year after the business opened its physical doors, Rachael Popplewell posted an emotional announcement online: Curiosity Kitchen would be closing by the end of the month.
Rather than a permanent goodbye, she described it as a “heartfelt pause.”
The Why Behind the Closure
Despite the strong reviews and local support, Rachael explained the decision with sobering honesty. She cited the difficulty in balancing the emotional and financial weight of running a small, independent food business.
“Curiosity Kitchen deserves to be more than just a passion project—it was supposed to be a livelihood,” she shared in a statement featured in The Pembrokeshire Herald. “If I continue down this path without the sustainability I need, I risk burning out completely.”
She emphasized that this closure was not failure, but rather a strategic step back—an opportunity to refocus, recharge, and reimagine the future.
A Future Still Full of Possibility
The announcement was met with a flood of supportive comments from customers and peers.
Rachael hinted that the journey isn’t over:
She hopes to travel, seeking inspiration from new cultures and flavors.
She hasn’t ruled out a return to Pembrokeshire—perhaps in a different form or new location.
Some of her signature offerings may even make guest appearances at local venues.
Fans remain hopeful that Curiosity Kitchen will rise again, possibly with supper clubs or popup events. And knowing Rachael’s ambition and skill, that seems like more than just wishful thinking.
Meanwhile, Across the Pond: Curious Cantina and California Closures
While Curiosity Kitchen Haverfordwest makes headlines in Wales, similar names have sparked curiosity elsewhere:
Curious Cantina: A small Latin-fusion pop-up concept in the U.S., unrelated but frequently confused due to the name.
Curious Kitchen Senoia (Georgia, USA): Another beloved eatery offering brunch and gourmet menus. Its popularity has led many to search for related menu updates or possible closures.
Curiosity Kitchen California: Several eateries have popped up under similar names across California, with a few closing post-pandemic due to rising costs.
While these businesses are unaffiliated, the shared name reflects a global appetite for experimental, passion-driven kitchens that challenge the norm.
Reflecting on a Culinary Chapter
Curiosity Kitchen in Haverfordwest was not just a café—it was a culinary expression of resilience, creativity, and authenticity. In less than two years, it managed to:
Build a loyal customer base
Serve hundreds of handmade meals
Establish a respected presence in Haverfordwest
Represent the grit of small, independent food entrepreneurs
Though it has now paused operations, it leaves behind a flavorful legacy—and a community eager for its return.
Final Thoughts – What Curiosity Kitchen Teaches Us
In an age where chain restaurants and fast-food outlets dominate high streets, Curiosity Kitchen reminded people of what food can and should be—intimate, inspiring, and made with care.
Its temporary closure is a reflection of the larger struggles faced by small business owners today. But it also highlights the power of community support and the potential for creative rebirth.
As we wait to see what comes next for Rachael and her culinary journey, one thing is certain: the story of Curiosity Kitchen isn’t over.
And for readers looking to follow more such inspiring local business stories, visit Dwellmend.com—your source for grounded community insight and cultural commentary.