A husband-and-wife team are hoping to cook up a storm at their new cafe in Appleby.
Connor and Abi Ruehorn-Hyde have taken over Temptations Cafe in Bridge Street, having bought out former owner James Brighurst who is launching a new restaurant in the town.
The cafe is being relaunched under the name Lilly’s in a nod to the couple’s 19-month-old daughter, Lilly.
Abi, aged 28, first moved to Cumbria five years ago to work with Icelandic horses at Gaisgill. She was soon followed by her partner Connor, now aged 24, and the couple have since married and had their young daughter.
Prior to moving to Appleby they were living in Orton where Connor worked on a local farm while Abi worked at Westmorland Services.
Before working in agriculture Connor worked in hospitality and they are hoping to put that experience to good use in taking over the Bridge Street cafe.
Abi said: “We saw Temptations was for sale and wanted something to help us feel part of the community, which I think is important for raising our daughter to make her feel she has a home and give us some more family time.
We thought now was a good time to get this lovely place, set in a lovely own.”
Having moved to Appleby in August last year, Abi and Connor bought Temptations in early May and are now hard at work transforming it into Lilly’s with a goal of opening on Monday.
The cafe is undergoing redecoration throughout which Abi says will give it more of a rural theme inside.
In keeping with that, the new owners intend to keep a traditional cafe menu but will be offering a seasonal specials board where they hope to offer more game products.
“Connor is very keen on using game and feels it’s something that isn’t used nearly enough.
“We want to get some of the younger generation trying it and it will be maybe something nostalgic for the older generation in the town,” Abi said.
