When I first opened the Whistle Stop Café, it was nothing like the place it is today. In fact, there wasnt really a business at all. The previous manager - someone who, I'm led to believe, kept a bottle of white next to the till all day and stocked the cake counter with Tesco's finest - had driven the café into the ground. It was failing. The powers that be decided to shut it down, and for a while, it sat empty, a forgotten space with no real future.

I had been asked more than once to take it over. Each time, I said no. I didn't see the potential. I was also navigating the aftermath of a major breakup, raising two small boys full-time on my own, and trying to balance a career in catering. Being a single parent is no small task. Being a single parent with a full time career in the food industry? Thats a whole different level of challenge.

Taking the Leap

So, I took the leap.

Those early days were tough - really tough. Not because I was struggling to build a business, but because I was trying to put everything I could into building a business that I was proud of whilst also navigating single parenthood. It wasn't a half-and-half relationship with their dad - it was all on me. That is super hard.

I still remember the daily battle of trying to get to school pick-up when food service finished at 2.30pm. But if it was busy, you dont want to let customers down, so you eke it out - then rush to school, only to be bawled at by the year 6 teacher who had absolutely no concept of what I was trying to juggle. Not wanting to let anyone down was a constant battle.

And in those early days, I wasn't just a barista or the person taking the money on the till - I was also doing all the cooking. I started small. You do what you can. A little brunch menu, a few cakes. But when you're also serving all the customers, making every coffee, and trying to keep up with the orders? It's a lot. And of course, I have this habit of giving more than I should, so the menu grew, and so did the expectations.

The Team That Made It Happen

When I opened the Whistle Stop Café, I wasn't just starting a business - I was stepping into a charity-run, volunteer - led space. Today, we have four full-time employees, but the rest of the team? Volunteers. Passionate, dedicated volunteers who wanted this café to succeed as much as I did. And they were all of a certain age - retired, let's just say that.

And my staff? Also retired. Picture this: me, working the coffee machine and till, and cooking, Volenteers washing up, running food, and clearing tables. It was a team unlike any other, and I am so incredibly proud of those early days. Because let me tell you, as a forty- something-year-old woman back then, it was hard work - but when you're in your seventies? It's a lot.

They deserve all the respect in the world because, without these beautiful souls in those early days, the Whistle Stop wouldn't have survived.

The Characters Who Kept the Whistle Stop Running

Every great café has it's characters, and we had plenty!

Caroline was my rock - part of the team of trustees, she stepped in whenever I needed help and was the driving force behind rallying the volunteers. Without her, I don't know how we would have made it work.

Then there was Jackie, a force to be reckoned with. Frances, who was quite deaf, and a little blind in one eye but worked harder than anyone. Mary and Beryl, both reliable and full of heart. Jackie C, who had a sharp sense of humour and a knack of keeping spirits high.

And Pete - Oh Pete. He had a deep fascination with moss and could talk about it for hours. He was the one who kept things light with his quirky knowledge and endless enthusiasm.

Then there was Janey. Janey, who at one point was the fifth wife to a Russian Count, making her a countess. Super posh but swore like a trooper, she could serve afternoon tea with the refinement of royalty and then turn around and curse like a sailor if the dishwasher jammed. She was an absolute legend.

She also had a habit of wearing shoes that were, let's just say, well - loved. Threadbare, really. You'd think a countess might have a closet full of designer heels, but no - Janey's shoes had seen more miles than the café's ancient train carriage. And then there was her dog. An ancient, nearly blind, slightly wonky old thing that she brought to work. Not in the kitchen, obviously, but she'd set up a little bed in the café, and he'd sit there, snoozing away while customers tried to figure out if he was even real.

And then there was Will Cook and his partner Carolyn.

Will was kind of my boss - he was a trustee but also the reason the Goodsshed and the café existed in the first place. A huge creative force, so passionate about the whole project, and a massive support to me. In those early days, Will and Carolyn were my rocks.

Carolyn did something I will always be grateful for - not only did she supply the café with the most beautiful flowers from her garden to go on each table, she looked after my dog Tiffin along with her own dog Jenny Wren, so she wouldn't be alone while I ran the café. She gave her so much love, and knowing Tiffin was happy and safe gave me piece of mind during those long, exhausting days.

And Will - he let me take on the café and gave me the space to run with it. I still remember him saying " I trust you Sasha, do whatever you think is right, and I will be here to support you, I know you will make this a success "

That belief in me made all the difference.

More Than Just a Café

The Whistle Stop café isn't just a café. It exists to support the Goodsshed, the arts and theatre centre attached to us. Our job, at the core of it, is to make profit to keep the Goodsshed running, to help sustain a space for creativity, culture, and community. That mission has shaped everything we do.

A Little Movie Magic

Those early days were challenging because, at the bottom line, we needed to make a profit. Enter the Cinema Supper Clubs. We have a Finnish train carriage as part of the café seating, and I decided to introduce supper clubs - two course meals before the cinema nights on Thursdays. How fab is that? These became incredibly popular when we had a great film on - think Bohemian Rhapsody, Mama Mia! - a delicious two course meal in a beautifully lit train carriage before a fantastic film. It was a magical experience and a huge success.

Putting Us on the Map

In those early days, it was all about building a community. The café isn't in the town, there wasn’t really passing trade, except for dog walkers. But it is in a lovely park setting. So I thought, if I could get it on the map, it would be a win.

There are so many funny moments I look back on and laugh, and some I cringe at.

Of course, the biggest shift came with COVID - but more on that later..

For now, this is the story of how it began.

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