An inclusive craft café is set to reopen in Overton on Monday, with its founders promising a bigger space, new crafts and an updated menu for visitors.
Thread and Toast, founded by Tory Simpson and Lisa Graves, will reopen at Quidhampton Business Park on Monday, September 21, following its move from its previous home in Malshanger.
The café originally opened in November and combines homemade food and cakes with a creative space where customers can take part in a range of craft activities.
The move means the business now has a larger premises, more parking and access to official walking routes and the surrounding countryside.
Tory said the new location offered plenty of opportunities for customers to make more of their visit.
“It’s much bigger, there’s more parking, there are official walking routes and things like that, there’s much more countryside to enjoy,” she said.
“We’ve got some new crafts and a new menu. It’s much bigger, better, cuter and prettier.”
The café already offers activities including bracelet making, painting, bookmark making, cross-stitch and coaster-making, while the new premises will see the introduction of candle painting, photo frame decorating and snow globe making, among other activities.
The move came after the founders were told they would need to leave their previous premises when the landlord decided not to extend their lease.
Since receiving the keys to the new café five weeks ago, Tory and Lisa have been working to get the new premises ready for reopening.
“It’s been a labour of love, that’s for sure, it’s been a real team effort,” Tory said.
“We are really excited. It’s been five weeks since we’ve got the keys so it’s been a quick turnaround.”
The business will also be expanding its team, with Tory’s partner Daniel Box joining the café as part of the reopening.
Food remains a major part of the Thread and Toast offering, with baked goods made by Lisa and breakfast and lunch options prepared partly by a chef and partly by Tory, who trained as a chef at BCoT.
The café is also continuing its focus on inclusivity, aiming to provide a welcoming environment for people with coeliac disease, neurodivergent visitors and those with food intolerances.
All menu items have coeliac-friendly options, alongside a range of dairy-free and vegan choices.
The new premises are currently awaiting a planning application for extended opening hours. In the meantime, Thread and Toast will open from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
The reopening on Monday will mark the next chapter for the café, as Tory and Lisa look to build on the community they established during their time in Malshanger while making the most of their larger new home in Overton.