News / Cafes
Cafe reopens with added convenience store
A cafe in east Bristol has reopened following the closure of another long-running one nearby.
Gillian’s Cafe has been taken over by Charmaine Daveridge, who ran the Fountain Cafe in St George for 13 years until it closed on Saturday.
The Fountain, which first opened on Church Road in 1955, is due to be put up for auction following the death of Charmaine’s landlord.
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Not wanting to retire, she has moved her business to Gillian’s, which closed at the end of July and is less than a mile away from the Fountain.
The 61-year-old has spent a week renovating Gillian’s in Speedwell, reopening the cafe on Monday with an added convenience store element.
Gillian’s Cafe in Speedwell has reopened under new management – photo: Charlie Watts
Charmaine Daveridge has taken over Gillian’s, which closed at the end of July – photo: Charlie Watts
Speaking from her new premises in Crofts End Road, Charmaine said: “It’s really good, I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out.
“It’s much better looking than our old cafe; a lot newer and business hasn’t been too bad.”
Charmaine admits closing the Fountain, the building for which dates back to the 1870s as the Tram Refreshment Rooms and tobacconists, was “emotional”.
She added: “It was a really busy day and saying goodbye to a lot of people, but most of them are following us so that’s a good thing.
“It’s all good news because we’ve got the original consumers and new ones as well so hopefully we’re on to a winner.”
Charmaine Daveridge previously ran the Fountain in St George, which closed on Saturday – photo: Charlie Watts
Geoffrey Needs, who was a customer of the Fountain and now Gillian’s, told Bristol24/7: “It’s like moving into a new cafe but the atmosphere is still the same.”
As well as selling the same menu as the Fountain, Charmaine has turned the front of Gillian’s into a small convenience store selling items such as fresh bread and toiletries as well as crisps and chocolate.
She explained: “There’s nowhere around here for people to shop, so we’re just stocking the essentials and things.
“I think we’re going to be run off our feet to be honest!”
As well as being a cafe, Gillian’s also now includes a small convenience store – photo: Charlie Watts
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read next:
- Cafe and restaurant closes after almost ten years
- Bristol’s ‘oldest greasy spoon cafe’ to close
- Your Bristol Favourites: Cafes
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