Delicious duo: One Ninety Nine

Only one hour from Christchurch, one ninety nine is a café and espresso bar that’s tucked into an alleyway at 199 Burnett Street, Ashburton.     “We’ve been told there’s a definite Wellington and Wanaka vibe going on here, so that speaks volumes,” says owners Gareth and Jamie Cadogan. Gareth and wife Jamie have worked […]

On route: Route 72 Cafe & Emporium

It can only be called a complete experience – not simply a cafe and a store, but a destination with so much variety and pizzazz you need hours to take it all in. Set in the quaint and picturesque village of Cust is Route 72 Cafe & Emporium, a country cafe/ bar and retail outlet. […]

Bright & vibrant in Rangiora: The Station

A curated selection of giftware, clothing and jewellery bring a fresh offering to Rangiora at The Station Café and Shop.   The former train station turned café and beautiful gift store is under the new ownership of Steve and Vivienne King who have lived in and loved the North Canterbury area for two years now. […]

Market-ing the local coffee shop: Ricoh Pandemic Pivot

She opened her café amidst a global pandemic, and the community support has been so great for this 18-year-old Christchurch woman, she is now using her profile to promote other small local business.   Izzy Leighs opened Izzy’s Café and Coffee Bar on Bealey Avenue in June, after Covid-19 disrupted her plans to travel and […]

Thorough-bread catering: Halswell Bakery

Whether you’re hosting an event or planning a boot party at the races, the talented team at Halswell Bakery can provide fresh, delicious catering to suit your requirements.     From tasty club sandwich platters, bacon and egg slice, quiche and savouries to custom-made birthday cakes, donuts and sweet treats, everything is freshly handmade on […]

Somewhere cosy: Cosy Café

The quintessential neighbourhood café, every community should have a Cosy Café. Locally owned and operated by Sam and Amy Lester, the couple celebrate their first year in the café this November. Amy has a background in retail – her rapport with regulars and new customers comes naturally, while Sam has changed careers and uncovered a […]

Gardens, gifts and café in one: Lushingtons Gardens, Gifts and Café

Spring is a time of renewal. It’s also a time to explore, to do something different, to find somewhere new to enjoy. There can be few more alluring places for a new experience than Lushingtons Garden, Gifts and Café at Tinwald, Ashburton. It’s the perfect stop for lunch and a leg stretch en route to […]

New venture adventure: Salt n Pepper Cafe

Buying a hospitality business during the Covid-19 lockdown could be seen as a risky venture. That is, however, exactly what Dharambir Judge did when the opportunity arose to purchase the Salt n Pepper Café in Hanmer Springs.   “Certainly, I had some sleepless nights about it,” says Dharambir. “But I concentrated on the positives of […]

A café collaboration: Purple Weka Cafe

Friends helping out friends, and businesses building each other up, is what Cantabrians do best. ‘   Café and bar owner Stu McDougall was eternally grateful to have his entrepreneurial buddy, Ben Hogg, weave some infamous Purple Weka magic online during lockdown. He kept loyal customers entertained, as nothing was coming out of the kitchen […]

The new ‘abnormal’: Belle Cafe

COVID-19 has been a massive hit to the café industry. We caught up with owner of Belle Café, Bink Bowler, on his thoughts around this new (not so) normal.     Bink has owned cafés for 10 years, founding Black & White Coffee Cartel before selling last year and starting his first solo project – […]