'We love the community here in Featherstone' - It's a family affair as new owners talk of taking on running of popular Featherstone cafe

It has been a whirlwind week for Donna Rushton and her family after they officially re-opened the cafe on The Avenue, a month after the previous owner Emma Nelson had closed the cafe due to personal circumstances. 

Since opening as The Café at Featherstone on Monday, Donna, her husband Simon and their daughters Ellice and Alicia have been working to provide a range of hot meals, cold and hot drinks, cakes and other snacks, such as toasties and ploughman lunches.

Ms Rushton said the opportunity to take over the running of the cafe had come up when she was on holiday in Malaga in Spain and saw the message on Facebook about the cafe closing.

She said: "I was sitting on the sunbed at Los Amigos in Spain with friends when I saw the message on Facebook, so I contacted Emma as I've known her for a few years and our sons grew up together and told her I might be interested in running the cafe.

"24 hours later, I'd made her an offer, which she accepted, and that was a deal done, so we got back from our holiday, had a few meetings and then signed a contract."

Ms Rushton said that she had made the decision to change the look of the cafe and give it a new life, so a full renovation was done, but she also wanted to keep on the good work of her predecessor.

She said: "A lot of the community were really disappointed when Emma closed the cafe and she did a great job running it, so a lot of her regulars have come back in and have told us they're really pleased with the new look and the new menu.

"We've kept some things the same, such as breakfasts and sandwiches, but we've also added a few different dishes that have been going down well and we'll keep updating the menu to keep it seasonal, such as salads in the summer and as the weather turns colder, soups with rolls."

Ms Rushton also said that herself and her husband had not had any previous experience in running a cafe, having run the Featherstone Fencing company, but they had been assisted by their daughters, who both have experience in the catering industry.

She said that while it had been a challenge to take over running a popular cafe, it was a challenge they relished and said she wanted to welcome as many people as possible through the doors.

She said: "We love the community here in Featherstone and we want to offer them different things on the menu.

"Simon and I bought the business and our daughters are employees, with Amelia taking over social media and blowing it up over things like our iced frappe drinks, which have attracted people from all over to come and try them.

"We want them to come and enjoy the cafe and feel the different vibe that we bring."