Couple’s passion for Italian food and culture has taken off in Pennine village
16:01, 25 Jul 2025Updated 16:04, 25 Jul 2025
Mark and Julie Bedford (Image: Liz Baker Photos)
It started with a passion for Italian culture and cuisine and has flourished.
Mark and Julie Bedford opened their cafe, Prendi Cucina Italiana, in the heart of Marsden village, near Huddersfield, 12 months ago and things have grown from there. They now employ four local people and are enjoying la dolce vita.
Mark said: “We are still here and doing well. We are celebrating our first birthday on July 26 (Saturday). We are licenced for the weekend and have live music on Saturday provided by local musician David Spong, also known as The Nowhere Man, who will be performing from 3pm.
“We also have free tiramisu served (from 11am) until it’s gone! The past 12 months have seen our little business grow, employing four local residents and being featured in Italia magazine.”
Mark Bedford who runs an Italian-inspired cafe in Marsden(Image: Lenswell Portraits )
Mark thanked Marsden residents for their support, saying: “Marsden folk have been truly amazing. The entire community of residents and businesses have really welcomed us.
“We feel completely at home here. We have so much more to offer and cannot wait for year two to share our menu ideas.”
Originally from Manchester, Mark’s love of Italian culture and food developed on family holidays that were a little out of the ordinary for a working class lad from the north. The family of five would get a train to Dover, cross to France and then catch a train across Europe and on into Italy, calling at various towns.
The journey would take up to 48 hours and would involve sleeping on the train. He has many fond memories of his time in Italy and has returned many times since.
The trips across Europe were made possible by Mark’s train driver dad, Alan, who was able to obtain cut-price train travel. Mark remembers the holidays as ‘magical’ and says it eventually developed into a love for Italian food. He remembers eating pizza in Rome and spaghetti in a restaurant in Maiori on the Amalfi coast, as well as trips to Pisa and Sorrento.
Mark gave up his job as a painter and decorator to devote his time to creating authentic Italian food, while Julie also gave up her full-time job and shares Mark’s passion for Italy.
Prendi Cucina Italiana can be found at 5 Station Road, Marsden.
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Dining and Cooking