Fab-brew-lous! New cafe opens at village store

Homemade food and cakes - the new cafe in Ringstead delights locals and those beyond.

Walking into the village shop in Ringstead I’m met by owners Nathan and Leah Gee. They are charming and I feel immediately welcome, and think what a perfect pair to be running a cafe.

“It’s four weeks since it opened,” says Nathan, “It’s in an area that was part of the shop, so things have moved around a bit. All the food’s fresh and we’ve got quite an extensive menu - handmade sausage rolls, tartlets, paninis, sandwiches and a breakfast menu.”

He smiles when I ask if he has a favourite item, “The cheese scone - and it’s our best seller too."  He goes on to say he thinks they've created a warm and cosy space, "And as you can hear there are already people here this morning enjoying it.”

The popular cheese scones

In the cafe, which is delightfully decorated, a table of four are busy with hot drinks and appetising looking dishes. Luckily Rob, Sue, Fran and Jo don’t mind me interrupting to ask how it all is. “It’s perfect, we’ll be here again,” says Fran.

The compliments continue, “The coffee is absolutely excellent, the service is second to none and the food is lovely - what more could you want. And I think what they’ve done with this room is amazing,” adds Sue.

Leah serving Rob, Sue, Fran and Jo

As I go to leave Jo says, “I really hope word gets around because it deserves to be busy, just look at the selection of cakes you get - spoilt for choice.” The table agree it’ll take a few more visits to try them all out.

I go in search of these cakes, which are on display by the counter. I’m tempted by all of them, but Leah’s on hand to help. 

“We have an amazing selection of handmade cakes, some homemade here by ourselves, others by local companies, a variation of sweet and savoury - we have gluten free and vegan. Lots of fruit cakes, we like to think of that as one of your five a day,” she laughs. “The ultimate brownie is delicious though - I mean they’re all good - but I do like a bit of chocolate.” I’m sold.

The couple are determined not just to serve delicious food and drinks - but also create a community space. Leah explains, “We don’t have any local transport routes through the village, so especially throughout the winter months it can be quite isolating for a lot of people. We’d like to be a safe space - a warm space for people to come, sit and meet up with others.”

I ask how the workload is running a shop and a cafe. “There’s a lot that goes on from the crack of dawn til the evening,” Nathan tells me, “From selling newspapers, to selling freshly baked bread, baking cakes, serving in the cafe. But we are now able to hire 5 part time members of staff - which is great for the community too.”

And the response so far?  "It's been great," he says, "People in Weymouth have even heard about us and told their friends in King’s Lynn to come and see us!”

And most importantly the pair are enjoying it - and you can tell.  “It’s incredible talking to people, having a chat when you give them their food,” says Leah, “I was chatting to a lady the other day, she’d literally cycled the world - you hear so many incredible stories so we’re really fortunate that we get to incorporate that into our day. We just hope it continues.”

It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday - and Nathan is already thinking it would be a great space to hold things like book clubs, adding, “We’re really excited about where it’s going to go in the future.” I feel if anyone can make it a long term success, it’s this pair.

Not just a cafe then, but the makings of a wonderful community hub (with the added bonus of a mouth watering selection of cakes).  Oh - and it's dog friendly, what's not to like?!