New business venture launches with help from funding

A new coffee shop in Bridgend town centre has opened with the help of funding from Bridgend County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise.

Coffee@12 in Derwen Road officially opened its doors on 8 September and are owned by husband and wife team Louise & Matthew Elston. After Louise realised her life-long ambition to run her own coffee shop, the couple worked on making the ambition a reality.

They received support from the Bridgend Business Start-up Fund provided by the Council’s Employability and Enterprise Team, in partnership with UK Steel Enterprise, which they used to invest in a professional coffee machine and electrical and plumbing works at the new premises.

Louise Elston said, “We’re very grateful to Bridgend County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise for supporting our new venture. Owning my own coffee shop has always been a dream of mine, and having worked in the NHS for 32 years, I felt the time was right for that dream to become a reality!

“Our first couple of months of trading has been really encouraging. It’s always nerve-wracking opening a new business, as you don’t know how it will turn out – but we’ve built up a steady flow of regular customers, who come in for a cuppa and a chat.

“We started with tea, coffee, and cakes, but now we offer sandwiches, paninis, as well as afternoon teas, and a full-cooked breakfast – which is going down a treat with our visitors!

“We are child-friendly and dog-friendly too, so there’s plenty of space for everyone! We’re also open on a Sunday, which we think is unique for an independent town centre coffee shop.”

The coffee shop is currently open Thursday to Sunday, but Louise and Matthew already have plans to extend its opening hours to seven days a week in the future, alongside offering the venue to private bookings.

For more information on the Bridgend Business Start-up Fund, visit: https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/business/funding/economic-futures-fund/

To enquire about your eligibility for the scheme, email businessfunds@bridgend.gov.uk

To find out more about Coffee@12, visit their Facebook page.