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Long Stratton plant-based cafe enjoys sweet taste of success thanks to Lisa’s TLC




A plant-based cafe situated in a restored historic town building is continuing to see more and more customers come in to enjoy some well-known treats without the meat.

Huggers Coffee Shop and Bistro, in The Street in Long Stratton, opened in February after owner Lisa Dunn saw an opportunity for a new business and a building that needed some tender loving care.

She said: “I used the gym in the town and kept driving past the building and it looked really kind of tired and in need on some TLC, as it is such a lovely place.”

Lisa Dunn, owner of Huggers Coffee Shop and Bistro in Long Stratton. Picture: Mecha Morton
Lisa Dunn, owner of Huggers Coffee Shop and Bistro in Long Stratton. Picture: Mecha Morton

The restoration project, which took just over a year, included ripping everything out and then putting in new electrics, flooring, walls and a new kitchen.

Now open, Huggers offers a full plant-based menu with delicious offerings which customers, vegan or not, will fully recognise.

Lisa said: “I went vegan slowly six years ago. With Huggers, I wanted to promote vegan food in a way that people can associate with on a daily basis.

Huggers' restoration project took more than a year to finish. Picture: Mecha Morton
Huggers' restoration project took more than a year to finish. Picture: Mecha Morton

“So, like with our sausage rolls, a lot of our customers come and have them and, though they are meat eaters, they love them.”

Other dishes on the menu include bagels, burgers, sticky toffee pudding and cheesecake – all made in house.

Asked how the first few months had been for the business, Lisa, who has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years, said: “It has been good. We have also launched our Sunday lunches, so it is going well.”

The plant-based options for that include a sausage wellington, a nut roast and a roasted vegetable polenta with the likes of roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and other accompaniments.

“Our feedback on what we are doing here has been so good,” added Lisa. “We have regular customers constantly coming back in, which is great to see.”

Future plans for the business include evening opening, with a menu of firm favourites as well as new dishes to get people’s taste buds going.

To find out more about Huggers, find them on Facebook.



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