A COUPLE have fulfilled their dream of running a small cafe by taking over their local coffee stop.
Oonagh Harrison and her husband Nigel took over The Willow Tree at Colden Common Recreation Ground at the beginning of the month, to carry on the original owner’s goal of connecting the community through cake, coffee and conversations.
Oonagh, 60, makes most of the bakes on offer and uses independent producers such as Skylark Coffee. Mr and Mrs Harrison met while working in IT almost 30 years ago.
READ MORE: Coffee pod fills community gap in Colden Common
The mother of two, who lives in Highbridge Road, said: “I had been over here for coffee with my neighbours before. My friend told me that they were looking for someone to take it over, knowing that it was something I had always been interested in.
“Nigel loves coffee and we always had this little dream of something like this. It’s been great, we’re loving it but it is hard work.
“We wanted to continue the original ethos of the pod and support local independents so we looked for small business and nearby suppliers.
“The reaction has been great, people have been so warm and welcoming and happy to see that we are open again.
“It’s very important to have a place like this in the village. People come for the socialising as much as the coffee and cakes. We meet a lot of people who are working from home, who just need to pop out.
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“Doing a lot of the baking means it’s good quality and it’s not highly processed. It’s all made with love too. We’ll be doing this as long as we can. We’re hoping the children will take some interest too.
“The cheesies have been really popular and the carrot cake too. We’re trying to have a range of bakes that include gluten free and fully indulgent options too.”
Nigel, 55, is a keen cyclist and is hoping to bring a few tools to encourage more cyclists to the pod.
Willow Tree founder Katie Featherstone-Coombes, 31, launched the pod in the summer of 2022 after struggling without a place to get a coffee, rest or have a chat while out with her baby.
She used her experience as a psychologist and trainee midwife to fill the gap in the community and reduce isolation through the pod but knew she couldn't continue running it long term.
Oonagh and Nigel are hoping to go a step further and take the pod out on the road to local events such as Locality Festival in Twyford.
The Willow Tree is open at the recreation ground in Main Road 8.30am to 2.30pm on Wednesday and Friday and 9am to midday on a Saturday. For more information go to The Willow Tree – Colden Common on Facebook.
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