Café's heavenly treats help to boost visitor numbers at Black Country heritage attraction

A popular café serving up heavenly treats has been enticing more visitors to an iconic Black Country heritage attractions, figures have revealed.

Less than a year after opening at the Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley, Stourbridge, Heavenly Baking at The Cone has become a firm favourite with residents and visitors alike.

The café, owned and managed by talented caterer Zoe Konopka, has built a loyal customer base and has boosted visitor numbers at the historic Grade II listed cone, which had been without a coffee shop since January 2024.

In the first three months of 2026 numbers increased by more than 1,600 compared with the same period in 2025.

Zoe, who has 19 years’ catering experience and also runs the successful Heavenly Baking restaurant at Walsall Garden Centre, opened the venture at the cone in October 2025

Open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm, it serves up barista-made coffee, freshly prepared breakfasts and lunches, plus a range of handmade cakes - with gluten-free and vegan options available. The café’s standout bestseller is the traditional Manchester tart – combination of pastry, jam, cake cream and toasted coconut.

Zoe, who sources as many ingredients as possible from suppliers in the Black Country and West Midlands, said: "It's been amazing to see how people have embraced Heavenly Baking at The Cone. Customers often tell us they came for a coffee and cake and ended up spending hours exploring the cone and its fascinating history.

"The Red House Glass Cone is such a special place. It absolutely exudes history, but it's also incredibly peaceful, sitting right next to the canal. Whether someone wants a full lunch, afternoon tea or simply a cup of tea and a friendly chat, we want everyone to feel welcome here.

"We've worked hard to restore the café space and celebrate its historic character, so it's wonderful to see it becoming a community hub. We're on a real roll. We hope even more people will come and discover everything the cone has to offer."

The cafe, which is dog-friendly and offers a menu for four-legged friends, also boasts an upstairs event space that can accommodate up to 40 guests which can be hired out privately for baby showers, afternoon teas and celebrations.

Zoe, aged 35, added: "We're creating more than a café – we're creating a place where people can relax, connect and make memories.”

In August, she plans to launch a special Glass Makers Lunch - inspired by the packed lunches once brought to work by glassmakers who laboured at the cone during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Inspired by her nan, who trained as a pâtissier in Switzerland, Zoe began pursuing her passion for baking after undergoing a life-changing operation in 2013. She has since built a successful business while helping young people gain valuable skills, confidence and employment opportunities.

Working alongside a local college, she has provided training opportunities for students with additional needs, with several progressing into employment. One former student now manages her Walsall venue, while another has become an accomplished baker supplying treats to both businesses.

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Dudley Council, said: "Heavenly Baking has quickly become an important part of the visitor experience at the Red House Glass Cone. The cafe is helping attract new audiences while encouraging people to spend more time exploring this remarkable historic site.

"The combination of great food and drink, a peaceful canalside location and one of the region's most remarkable historic landmarks is proving to be a winning recipe. Alongside our growing craft studios and new visitor experiences, the café is helping strengthen the cone’s role as a key heritage, cultural and visitor destination within the Glass Quarter."