4 minute read
The Village Coffee Shop: Q & A with the founder
We’ve seen a lot about the opening of a coffee shop in the village which will mean that we don’t have to get into a car and go to Stratton Audley Barn or to Savoir Fare in Bicester for a good cup of coffee. So we went and talked to the founder, Jen Walker. Here is what she told us.
Tell us about The Village Coffee Shop?
It’s been a long-held dream of mine to run a coffee shop, and after months of planning, prepping, compliance, courses and (quite frankly) nagging the Landlord, Kyle from The Launton Arms … we will be opening on Monday 3 April.
When do you open?
We open on Monday 3 April at 9am and will be opening on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am until 4pm, with increased opening hours if there is demand.
What food and drinks will you be offering?
We will be starting with a small selection of light breakfast; toast and jams and granola and yoghurt with berries and light lunches of homemade soups and ploughman's. One of the reasons for having a small menu, initially, is to be able to offer dairy free, vegan and gluten free option for each of the menu choices.
We will also have coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and cakes, with dairy-free and gluten-free options. We want to start small and get it right rather than having a huge menu right away.
Tell us about the Chat & Natter Table
The Chat & Natter table is an initiative set up to combat loneliness and is organised by The Chatty Café Scheme. A Chat & Natter table creates a space for people to talk, whether for five minutes while you drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation. We’re not trying to build friendships - just simple interactions to combat loneliness and to just maybe have a big impact on someone’s day. The focus is on bringing people of all ages and from all walks of life together. One, or more of our tables will have a special Chat & Natter sign so if you are happy for company, choose that table.
What is the Invisible Cake all about?
You buy a piece of ‘invisible’ cake and all the proceeds get donated to Bicester Food Bank - 0% fat for you - 100% to charity!
What else are you offering?
Many, many things …
.. To start with we’re offering a drop off and collection point for Refills By Beez the local household zero waste refill company ...
.. Then there’s good WiFi for people wanting to come and work from the coffee shop …
.. And a Book Bank where you can swop or take a book …
.. And a Loyalty Card for hot drinks …
.. And workshops where you can learn a new craft …
.. And a small retail space to support small businesses. We are all about supporting the community and local business. Wherever possible we have chosen local, fair-trade, sustainable, rainforest alliance certified suppliers including The Blue Texel, Refills By Beez, Ma’amalady, The Cake House …
What coffees, teas and milks will you have on your menu?
We will be offering the standard coffee shop menu of Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino, and Americano, and Decaf coffees. There will be a selection of teas along with hot chocolate, and cold drinks. For milk we will have cows’ milk, and as alternatives oat milk and soya milk.
Do you welcome dogs?
Yes - and their owners - as long as both are well behaved.
So, with the Coffee Shop opening during the day, does this mean that The Launton Arms will be open as a pub in the evenings?
Yes. The Launton Arms, which is a separate entity to The Village Coffee Shop, will be reopening soon.
And, finally, do you have a message for Launton Lines readers?
This is a new venture for us and we won’t get everything right straight away, so please speak to us if you have any suggestions.
