The Love of Coffee, & Good People.
Cafe Roots is a modern neighbourhood cafe focused on quality coffee, sustainability, and community.
Meet Nicola & Jon
Nicola
I’m the person behind the dream of Cafe Roots.
It’s a dream that will take shape over the coming months, perhaps even the next year, but one thing I know for certain is that it will become a reality.
Throughout my working life, every role I’ve held has centred around people. Creating connections, providing great service, and bringing communities together has always been at the heart of what I do.
Until the summer of 2025, you would have found me—whatever the weather, serving coffee and cake from my coffee van, Barista Bus, now proudly owned by the lovely Alex. For six wonderful years, I had the privilege of trading at the beautiful Twywell Hills and Dales. It became so much more than a place to grab a coffee. It was where walkers gathered, conversations flowed, strangers became friends, and friends became a community.
That sense of belonging is exactly what I want to create with Café Roots at Hanwood Park.
My vision is simple: a welcoming space where residents can come together, connect, share stories, support one another, and build lasting friendships. A place that becomes the heart of the community, a true hub for Hanwood Park.
Of course, bringing a dream to life is never a one-person job, and in the coming weeks I’ll be sharing ways you can get involved. Whether you're handy with a paintbrush, confident with a saw, skilled with a welder, or simply willing to lend a hand, your support could help shape something truly special.
Together, we won’t just be building a cafe, we’ll be building a community.
Jon is my husband, biggest supporter, and the person who quietly makes so much of this dream possible.
While I’m often the face behind Cafe Roots, Jon is the driving force behind the scenes. He works incredibly hard to give me the opportunity to pursue this vision, and his belief in the dream has never wavered.
When it comes to Cafe Roots, no job is beneath him. He’s the maintenance team, the labourer, the problem-solver, and, when needed, he'll happily step in as cashier, pot washer, furniture builder, or whatever else the day demands. He truly is a man of many talents.
Unfortunately for Cafe Roots, Jon has a proper full-time job, so you won’t see him around as often as you’ll see me. But make no mistake, his fingerprints will be on every part of this journey. From the early plans and late-night discussions to the hard work that turns ideas into reality, he will always be there behind the scenes helping bring the Café Roots dream to life.
Every dream needs someone who believes in it just as much as you do. For me, that person is Jon.
Jon
