THE LATEST addition to a popular craft village in Wokingham is proving to be a hit with customers and fellow shop owners alike.
The Grange Chocolate Cafe, which is based at Holme Grange Craft Village, in Heathlands Road, tentatively opened its doors last November and is now looking forward to a jam-packed summer schedule.
Co-owner Vivienne Lee, who also runs the cafe’s sister sites in Henley-on-Thames and Goring, said she is excited to build the reputation of the new cafe.
She said: “I have a tendency to throw myself in at the deep end. We opened here on the first day of the Christmas Market, and we opened in Henley on the first day of the Regatta, I don’t like to take things slowly.
“It’s a bit of a rags-to-riches story really, when the recession hit my mortgage business really suffered, and I happened to know the owners of the Chocolate Cafe in Henley, and they asked me if I’d like to take over the running.
“I turned a 10-seater cafe into a 90-seater, and three cafes later we are going from strength to strength.”
Vivienne, who takes a very hands-on approach to the running of her cafes, has immersed herself in Craft Village life, and regularly welcomes collaboration with other shops within the complex.
Delicious choices at the Chocolate Cafe, Holme Grange Craft VillageShe said: “We are helping Beyond the Download with their Record Store Day which is really exciting, we help the Brickies Club with space for their workshops, i-Prints are providing us with fantastic new uniforms, and Daizey’s Den sorted out all of our flower beds and hanging baskets.
“There’s such a lovely atmosphere here, and the summer programme is looking amazing. Of course we have the bank holidays and Easter holidays coming up, and we have the Vintage Fair in June which we are all looking forward to.
“I love the buzz of the cafe, I love coffee and I love seeing people enjoying themselves. I encourage my staff to keep the atmosphere as relaxed as possible, but with lots and lots of energy.
“I like to give a place an entire year before I can tell how it is going, but so far so good! When we opened in November, my daughter had just given birth and was in hospital for four weeks, so having a big launch party was the last thing on my mind, so maybe we will have to think about throwing a first birthday celebration instead!”
The Chocolate Cafe is open at Unit 6 in Holme Grange Craft Village seven days a week. For more information visit www.facebook.com/The-Grange-Chocolate-Cafe.
