INDEPENDENT IN EVERY WAY

Coconut Café is perhaps, at first glance, a strange combination. Serving traditional British breakfasts from 8am alongside the “best freshest, tastiest Thai food” from 11am. But the 5-star reviews, the returning customers and the busy kitchen reveal a winning formula. EofUs wanted to find out more…and of course try the deliciousness too.

Wi Phenkhae Eunson and her daughters

Phetcharat and Pailin Nguasonboonthree are the three hardworking women who founded the cafe in 2019, just before Covid hit.

Wi, came to Hull from Southern Thailand in 2006. She laughs at how, on arriving, the shock of the cold, the people and food led her to pray to Buddha for rice. "I was used to eating rice every day.… I was so confused and hungry. But my prayer was answered, I met a Thai woman in Beverley, who cooked me rice and saved me! She told me where to go shopping!"

Wi knew her English needed to be better, so she took a job cleaning and enrolled in English classes. "I then started working in a Thai restaurant and doing Thai massage. I love cooking so I used to cook and sell curries… I had no money and no language so knew I had to embrace the Thai’s ability to work hard. Also I wanted to bring my daughters over. In order to stay, you have to pass tests and know about British history. I learnt all this to be here."

It must have been so hard?

"I really regret that I left my daughters behind while I did this life. I brought my daughters over when they were 13 and 11. I enrolled them in school, they didn’t have good English, but the school was amazing and gave them lots of support. After leaving school they worked in Thai restaurants part time. Lots of Thai kitchens and restaurants are run by women - men often don’t work as chefs."

Phetcharat went on to study fashion

"Cooking and clothes, both are creative. I like working in our café, I’m sure my ambition is probably to be here. Pailin would like to eventually work for the airlines and travel."

You are truly international womenbut how does it feel to be part of two cultures?

"When we go Home to Thailand, it feels different and difficult at first, like when I come back here it’s strange at first. But you adapt and get used to things. Well apart from its hot and nice there!’' Do you like working with your daughters?

"Yes of course it’s nice. It’s better than working for someone else. We like the freedom of no one telling us what to do. But there is more responsibility and you get very tired. I worked 17 hour a day for years. In the café and then doing the shopping for next day. David, my partner, comes in and does breakfasts. He’s good at them. It's non-stop. We have to work fast, Thai food is fast too. When we started we did just deliveries – but couldn’t find address, we got lost. But we got better. Now we don’t do deliveries because we are busy but people can still take away. We don’t do social media or much promotion, it’s all come via word of mouth."

What advice would you give other people wanting to start a business?

"Do lots of research - watch what people want to eat and where and at what time. Here there was already breakfast café and we thought we could add Thai food." Wi you must be so proud of what you have achieved since 2006?

"Yes we would like to have another place. We have been looking. But I also can imagine going home as well, the more

I also go to college, but it's better on site. You learn about the attitude to work, showing up, being on time and meeting clients. Because I’m dyslexic I need to see and watch, and when something goes wrong I need to see it to work it out.

I love fitting doors! You have to look at a problem, the shape and then adapt. It’s all problem solving. I love working with a problem. It feels quite nice to see it done to a good standard and I feel proud I’ve managed it by myself.

I’ve passed level 1 and 2 Joinery at Hull college of building and am now doing Level 3 – Advanced. There is one other girl in my class of 25-30 people. I feel positive and see myself in the future and that’s important. I didn’t think about my future or where I’d be, I couldn’t see myself anywhere, but now my ambition is to work by myself. I also want to build my own house. That would be amazing.

Milly Dervey

Milly was awarded Hull Colleges 2023 Apprentice of the Year in February.

Home Essentials Workshop

Get confident in bleeding radiators, topping up boiler pressure and more.

»When: Wednesday Oct 4th at 4pm

»Where: Giroscope. Coltman Street

»Book: email hello@threewayseast.co.uk or message Kate on 07713 647 715