A cafe in Wimborne described as a ‘hidden gem’ hopes to encourage customers to connect with each other by having no wifi.
Little Pickle Cafe, which opened last May, is surrounded by nature next to the River Allan in the courtyard of Walford Mill.
Karen Merryweather, 53, owns Little Pickle Cafe alongside her husband Andrew, after previously owning a Cafe in the heart of Boscombe for 11 years.
She said this site appealed to them because of the location and the community feel of Walford Mill, which is also home to makers, creatives and artists.
“It feels lovely because we’re outdoors, so when the spring comes we open the doors and it literally feels like we are outside.”
“So work doesn’t feel like work here, it feels like you’re in nature with the trees and the river all around us.”
“We’ve been here for seven months now, and actually we’re finding that not many people outside of Wimborne know about us, so we are pushing it to show people that it’s a bit of a hidden gem.”
The dog-friendly cafe is wifi-free to encourage customers to have human conversations.
Karen said: “We don’t really encourage people to work here, it’s more about getting back to nature and listening to the sounds around you, and talking to friends and family.”
They also feel passionate about taking all the steps to make their cafe as sustainable as possible.
“My husband and I care very much for the planet and everything that lives on it.
“We have a zero plastic policy and we try to encourage the people that come here to be sustainable too.”
With 130 seats available guests can enjoy a large selection of pastries, cakes, meals and refreshments.
Karen said: “There is something on the menu for everybody and we can adapt lots of our dishes to suit all kinds of diets.”
To find out more about the cafe click here.
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