Best friends set to open ‘dream’ health-focused cafe in Harrogate next week despite lockdown challenges  

An innovative new cafe offering healthy, unprocessed food is set to open its doors in Harrogate next week, despite ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality industry during the pandemic.

Hustle & Co, which is based at the old Filmore & Union restaurant on the prestigious Prince Albert Row, on Station Parade, is aimed at serving local, fresh seasonal produce in a relaxed, contemporary environment.

The cafe, which will see up to 15 new jobs created, is being launched on Monday (December 7) by two best friends, Nici Routledge and Jo Bradshaw, who have reunited to realise their lifelong dream of owning their own cafe in Harrogate.

Dishes, which have all been personally created by the pair and are “rooted in the seasons”, will include everything from matcha waffles with broccolini and house hummus, through to in-house gluten-free toasted banana bread topped with homemade roasted nut butter.

They will be served alongside refreshments, including fresh juices, smoothies and Fairtrade house blend coffee, from 8am until early evening.

Nici said:

We just want to offer something healthy and unprocessed that still feels like a treat.

Despite many restaurants and cafes struggling as a result of two national lockdowns and reduced opening hours, Nici said although opening a new venture in the current climate was scary, she and Jo remained “glass half full people”.

Nici said:

Uncertainty I see as an opportunity. All my life I’ve embraced change, I’ve lived abroad, I’ve moved around, I’ve done lots of new challenges, from start-up businesses through to house renovations in different areas. So the only constant has been change in my life. Similar for Jo.

We can only do our best, follow the guidelines and take no chances. We are living with this – maybe for a long time to come – so you start as you mean to go on.

We are really fortunate in that we have an outdoor space at the front and back, so if there is a threat of closure, or we have to do takeaway only, we could turn it on its head.

We will also be doing the full menu as a takeaway option for those who prefer to remain at home to make people feel as safe and secure as possible.

The pair have fought hard for the Grade II listed premises, which have remained empty ever since its occupying restaurant closed suddenly last spring.

Nici said:

As a local resident and a member of the gym around the corner, myself and my friends were upset when Filmore closed its doors. We thought it was such a shame and we joked about running it as a community venture. But I actually meant it.

Last December Nici spotted a sign in the window which said the landlord had taken back possession.

After contacting the managing agents and agreeing to move forward, Nici got in touch with her best friend Jo to tell her the news.

The pair, who describe each other as “sisters”, had been on the cusp of opening a cafe together 20 years earlier, but the timing hadn’t been right due to them both having young families.

Nici said:

We said one day we might get a chance and wouldn’t it be great if we did. And two decades later, I rang Jo and said the perfect place had become available for rent and I think there’s a chance, but I don’t want to do it on my own. I don’t want to do it with anybody else, I only want to do it with you. Would you be up for it?

However, Jo had established a life abroad and it would have meant a major lifestyle change.  But after giving it a lot of thought, Jo agreed and the duo pulled a business plan together and Hustle & Co was born.

Despite having to battle some major hurdles, the green light was eventually officially given in mid-October and it has been non-stop for the pair ever since.

Nici said:

Jo is just like me. We are two women in our 50s whose raison d’etre is basically to please on a plate. It’s how we show we care. We have always cooked really well for our friends and family and our passion is about cooking a really good plate of food.

We have always eaten healthily and incorporated the rainbow into our dishes and everything we cook is always fresh and from scratch.

This was to form the basis of the Hustle & Co ethos and help the business to stand out from the crowd.

Nici added:

There is a really cohesive message, from our brand, right through to the food that’s served on the plate, as just being nothing added, but the passion in which it is given to you.

From the passion in the branding, through to the people on our team that adopt our whole philosophy, right through to the ingredients that go into every dish and the inspiration that’s delivered on the plate. Every aspect is important to us. We just want to inject life and passion. “So our strapline, ‘nothing added but passion and purpose’ is just a mantra for every aspect of our business model.

The name Hustle & Co is inspired by Nici’s “hustle and bustle lifestyle”, which sees her always having something on the go, with ‘co’ stemming from the word community.

Nici said:

We want to work with as many people as we can in the town to collaborate and provide a quality community space.

Changes to the building include new interior decoration featuring the brand’s colours – aubergine, avocado and cauliflower – which represents the natural element of the food, as well as improvements to the rear cosy courtyard.

Nici said:

We don’t want to emulate anyone else’s style. Yes it’s in the building of a previously successful brand, but hopefully people will walk through the door and say ‘it’s really different’.

Everything about us is just passion and purpose and that’s our big mantra. We are so excited to open and share our dream with everyone.