Helmsley Cafe goes grande with extension
Crema Coffee House fully reopens after taking over No 2 Borogate
Press release August 2015
Popular Helmsley cafe, Crema Coffee House, is unveiling its extension next week, which sees it double in size.
Crema took over the lease on the building next door to its original Borogate location last October, and has now finished converting the two into one large premises. The building was previously a hairdressers, but multiple changes have had to be made to both buildings. Archways have been put in either side of the groundfloor passageway that connected Nos 2 and 3 Borogate, along with a linking archway on the first floor.
The expansion means the cafe will be double its original size, now seating up to 60 diners and allowing the business to cater for larger parties. Crema now also has a bigger kitchen and a hot food license, so will be launching an extended menu to provide a wider selection of warming meals in winter.
Having run Crema for three years, when the lease next door became available owner Rachel Harrison felt it was too good an opportunity to let pass. In 2012 she made a career change, taking voluntary redundancy from a 17-year role in accountancy at York Council, having always wanted to run her own cafe and having fallen in love with the town of Helmsley as a child.
Rachel said: “The cafe was doing really well, and we had such a loyal and established customer base, that it seemed like the time was right to take the plunge and grow! The renovations took some time, as there was a lot of work needed to be done, including quite a few changes to the original Crema layout. Our kitchen has been moved downstairs and is now much bigger than before, and we have a dedicated coffee preparation area which will mean customers can now watch their drinks being made. All the work has been done by local tradesmen, who I have known for many years, and my very talented dad has done all the joinery and decorating work. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without him, so would like to say a big thank you.
“The expansion gives me many more opportunities for the future so the business will definitely keep evolving, but we will continue to concentrate on our core strengths of fabulous Pumphreys coffee, delicious freshly prepared food, home baking and friendly service. You’ll always receive a warm Yorkshire welcome and we look forward to showing people round the new and improved Crema!”