It was a visit to Barcelona many years ago that first turned Mike Brennen on to good coffee and when he hit his 50s it was a stressful job that made him desperate to escape the daily grind.
On a dark morning in November, 2015 — a month before Storm Desmond hit — Carlisle-based Mike opened Casbah Coffee at a darkened Penrith Railway Station serving Americanos, espressos and lattes.
The dream back then was that the 53-year-old might be able to combine his twin loves of good coffee with good music playing in the background.
Fast forward seven winters and Mike has decided to retire having become an established part of the station furniture.
It has involved 4.20am starts, to be at the station for 6.30am to serve commuters and visitors needing a caffeine jump, all the way up until 1pm.
Now aged 59 and with retirement brewing, he has driven away his distinctive little red van for the last time.
Mike, who had a newspaper career for 23 years, explained how it all came about.
“I feared for my health because of the levels of stress, and left without a job to go to,” he said of his old newspaper job.
“That was when my wife Tessa suggested I start a coffee business. At home, I’d been into coffee for years, buying lots and lots of domestic machines and taking up more and more of our kitchen!
“I hadn’t thought of doing it as a business before, but it was like a lightbulb moment. I didn’t go to bed that night, I just stayed up and wrote the business plan. My 50th birthday present from Tessa was a Barista course in London, so it was almost like it was waiting to happen. I was meant to do it, I think, I just didn’t know it — it was life-changing.”
Tessa, married to Mike for 32 years, said: “I remember the night he came home and said he was thinking of leaving his job but didn’t know what he should do and I said that I believed you’ve got to love the job you’re doing.”
On a walk together, she suggested he run a coffee van. By the following morning, Mike agreed and resigned that day.
Mike said: “I’ve loved doing it and loved the people, but I don’t wish I’d done it when I was 25 as I think you do certain things at certain times of your life.”
Tessa added: “I can’t explain the pride I feel. Just to be here on his last day and see all his regulars come and say goodbye. It’s also a big relief knowing that when it’s winter, he won’t have to travel 20 miles and back on the M6 in that little van.”
Penrith florist Val Edgar, who runs Flowers by Valerie Jayne, arrived with a big bouquet as a thank you for Mike being there. Val has grabbed a Casbah coffee many times, as every Tuesday she needs to catch the early train to York.
“Rain, hail or snow he’s here. It’s not just coffee, he’s just a really lovely guy who has always got good banter. He’s just been wonderful,” she said.
Customer Daniel Knapp, originally from Indiana, America, now lives just outside Yanwath, having also lived in France where he was turned on to proper coffee.
He was initially drawn to the Casbah, not by the coffee, but by the music. Daniel is a saxophone player and heard Mike playing some smooth jazz.
Said Daniel: “We’ve talked about everything under the sun, from politics to religion and music and everything in between. Mike is a music lover and I am too.
“There will always be a corner of Penrith railway station that is forever Mike and now where am I going to go for good coffee? It’s the best coffee I’ve found here.”
Avanti’s John Kelly, a team leader at the station, said: “Before Mike came there was nothing in that place and having him here and a lovely coffee — it’s like drinking champagne because it means so much to him. Like the taxi drivers, he is part of the team here.
“If someone has a problem, they might not always come into the station but Mike will help or send them in. He’s massively been an ambassador for the station and for Penrith.”
Mark Green, station manager, Karen Holliday, Jenny Fiddler and Marie Chisholm, were among the station staff saying their goodbyes.
Asked if he’ll ever have to make a coffee again in retirement, Tessa replied: “That’s hilarious! Do you know how obsessed he is with coffee?”
With more free time on his hands, the couple plan to walk the Wainwrights and also take on the epic Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile walk.
