Cook behind viral PizzaDog on helping SEN children

A pizza restaurant owner says he has been "inundated" with interest after starting a new support group for parents of children with special educational needs (SEN).

Paddy Sneath started Working Man's Kitchen from a food truck in October 2021, which serves a now-trademarked "PizzaDog", which combined a hot dog and a pizza into one dish.

The 38-year-old - who has two daughters, one of whom attends a school for SEN children - then opened a pizza restaurant in Nottingham's Sneinton Market in October.

He now hosts SEN-friendly dining sessions and a monthly support group for SEN parents at the site, and said he hopes to offer opportunities to SEN school leavers that "gives them a chance".

Mr Sneath who lives in Clifton, said he started Working Man's Kitchen to pursue his passion for food and the food truck proved such a success that he was able to leave his job as a pylon painter in January 2022.

He began selling burgers and fried chicken to fellow Nottingham Forest supporters outside the City Ground, but a brainwave from his wife helped him find a creative way to sell pizzas at speed to hungry football fans.

"Pizza is my passion, but we couldn't do it quickly enough – it's quite a long process doing one at a time in the truck," he said.

"My wife had some hot dogs left over and she said 'why don't we put that on it?', and doing it like that we could do three at a time.

"From then it's been mad really – an animal was born."

The Pizza Dog was picked up by social media accounts following culinary treats at grounds around the country and the interest led to Mr Sneath appearing on former Man v Food star Adam Richman's recent series on football food.

The food truck is currently parked while Mr Sneath focuses on his new restaurant, but he said he is busy with developing a number of other projects, including a chilli-infused hot honey with the University of Nottingham's food innovation centre.

The restaurant already hosts sessions for SEN families as well as the monthly support meetings for families which Mr Sneath said have been met with such a positive response that he aims to offer more events in the future.

"We've been inundated, not just with SEN schools, but other companies want to do pizza-making workshops here," he said.

"I think it's good for kids, and for people in general - they love to make things and get stuck in, and if it's something they've never done before, they love it.

"The kids get very excited with the whole process, it's very tactile and sensory, and they love to see the end product.

"I'd love to give some opportunities to school leavers and SEN children - nobody gives them a chance, they get seen as a burden, so that's something I really want to do."

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