A COUPLE who took over a cafe at a riding school have left just four months after opening.

The pair have relaunched their business as a mobile confectionary business to work around their busy family life.

Canters Café closed its doors at Shedfield Equestrian Centre, in Botley Road, at the beginning of May due to the owners experiencing problems including an overwhelming amount of hours.

Owners Kate and Ant Smith are preparing to welcome their seventh child in a matter of weeks so were happy to pull the plug on their cafe in its current form to make more time for the family.

Instead of ditching their business completely, the couple are re-launching as the mobile catering business Canters Confectionary so to choose their own hours and work around their lifestyle.

READ MORE: Couple open café at equestrian centre in the Meon Valley

Mr Smith, 40, said: “We were doing very well as far as business goes. Most cafes struggle throughout the beginning of the year and then pick up again in the summer but we were making a profit and enjoying it.

“The issues were with our contracted hours that we had no control over so it was kind of impossible to keep up. The hours were just too unsociable for us to continue.

“There is a relief now because of the issues we experienced. It didn’t feel like it was ours which left us downhearted and unhappy. Although the money was great, I felt my family was struggling and it wasn’t enough to keep me there.

“We’ve had a huge response online and more than 100 private messages asking why we have left and that we’re going to be missed. It shows we’re more than capable.

“Moving on the confectionary is just something to keep us ticking over. Our end goal is to save up for a mobile van. I’m definitely optimistic that it will be enough to keep us going.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Canters Confectionary owners Ant and Kate Smith

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Kate, 32, said: “I’m honestly so happy that we made the decision to leave, we already had other plans in our mind about where we wanted our business to lead. It’s always been directed towards mobile catering and events so we get to meet more people and experience different things rather than being stuck in the same place.

“The cafe was a stepping stone to launch our business and while we are taking a bit of a step down as we wait for baby number seven to arrive, we are very excited about the future of Canters.

“We were both in agreement that our time at the riding school had come to an end and know we did the right thing for ourselves and our family.”

Shedfield Equestrian Centre has been contacted for comment.

Although hopeful to eventually move back to the Meon Valley area with a catering van, the Smiths will first look to work events and confectionary deliveries around where they live in Portsmouth. For more information go to the Canters Confectionary Facebook page.