How did collective start…
Dominic looked across the road into the park at the Café and expressed how great it would be to one day make that place a hub for the community. A year later, various customers informed us that the Café was closing down and encouraged us to take it over.
At this time, we were still finding our feet with Sugar Pot, working 7 days a week, catering for local businesses, whilst raising a family. It seemed impossible...
Another few months passed and the lease became available and the more we looked into it, the more the feeling grew. On top of that, customers and the local community were pushing for us to put ourselves in the running.
So... following a family meeting, we submitted a proposal and a few weeks later we were told we had been successful.
After 6 months of negotiating and following the advice from surveyors, architects, and lawyers, We were finally able to sign the lease.
Then came the real fun and games of trying to get planning permission for a non-listed building, in a listed conservation area and beginning the refurbishment process. As time went whilst we were desperately trying to get the premise ready to open, the project went over budget by double the amount we initially expected, and we were in the same boat regarding the time frame.
Nine months later on the 13th July 2019, we were proud to finally open our doors to our community, our loyal customers and our friends: Our Collective…
Firstly, we bow with humility and want to say a huge thank you to our Mother, for the unconditional love, support and patience in dealing with us all over this crazy and very testing year and a half.
Secondly, from the depths of our hearts, we would like
to say thank you to every member of our local community, loyal customer base and friends that have contributed
to this project.
We are not exaggerating when we say we were overwhelmed
and deeply touched by your support, help and love - we
feel forever grateful.
A lot of you donated your valuable time and professional expertise. Architects, lawyers, conservationists, surveyors, legal advisers, writers, painters, construction engineers… the list goes on. Some of you turned up in your overhauls to help paint, contributed with great ideas, donated materials to assist in the building process.
The support and genuine desire of our local community to
make this venture work was breathtaking.
We would like to say a very special thank you to Joana Rosa. Being a customer of Sugar pot, Joana heard about the project, became inspired and generously offered her services. An exceptional architect with experience in conservation, mother of five wonderful children and quite literally sent to us like an angel at exactly the right moment. Joana has contributed a huge amount to this project
and we are eternally grateful to her!
Every single one of you will remain in our hearts for your kindness and support. It is because of this love and sense of community that we named it Collective.
This has been a truly collective effort from start to date. It is not just
our individual desires but the collective desire that has
actually manifested. Thank you!
