AN award-winning independent coffee house and grocers in the centre of Uppermill has celebrated turning two this month.
Since opening in November, 2019, Weaver & Wilde, has won numerous awards including a 2021 Travellers’ Choice Award from Trip Advisor, which recognises businesses that earn consistently good tourist reviews, and a North West Enterprise award.
The team behind Weaver & Wilde, Thomas and Cal Rowson-Codd, have also achieved their dream of featuring in the Northern Independent Coffee Guide with the coffee house set to be included in November’s edition.
The store has completely transformed in two years.
The awards have come despite significant pressures brought by the pandemic. The business was forced to close just months after opening when the first lockdown hit.
The coffee house reopened in May 2020 with a take-out only service, reduced menu, and social distancing guidelines which meant only one customer was allowed in the shop at a time.
The business kept afloat by selling essential retail items, which became 40 per cent of the business, and partaking in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme which offered a "lifeline".
Cal said: " A lot of the time we were the only point of contact for people and survived thanks to the support of the community and partnerships with local producers. Trade only returned to pre-Covid levels four weeks ago. "
He added: “The best part of the business is how embedded we are in the community, from partnering with other small businesses and creators to sponsoring the local football and rugby team.”
The dog friendly coffee house not only boasts a menu brimming with locally sourced produce but also sells an array of ‘pantry staples’, including farm fresh seasonal vegetables, McLintock's milk produced by a dairy herd that grazes on Saddleworth grass in Denshaw, Saddleworth butter, fresh bread from Roger's in Marsden and a selection of locally produced pickles, sauces and chutneys.
The coffee house stocks a range of local produce.
Weaver and Wilde also stocks a range of handcrafted goods made by local artists including jewellery, coffee cups, candles, greetings cards, pottery and homeware products and hosts regular crafts workshops.
Customers at Wilver and Wilde are guaranteed a warm welcome and some “cheeky banter” according to Cal.
He added: "Our tagline is sit back, relax and enjoy, we want the coffee house to give people the chance to have a bit of time out.”
Members of the Weaver and Wilde team.
Aside from award-winning coffee, Weaver and Wilde also sells a range of natural wines, local beers and a core spirits and is open later on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with an evening grazing menu available from 5pm.
The coffee house prides itself on being environmentally conscious and ethically aware.
Cal explained: "We can trace every coffee bean in the bag to the farmer."
The team at Weaver and Wilde have hinted at plans to further expand the business with ambitions to grow their local produce provision.
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