Ree's Café in Sudbury launches breakfast takeaway service to help stay afloat financially during coronavirus lockdown

A small independent café, which has resumed serving customers after seven weeks of closure due to the coronavirus crisis, says it needs the community’s support more than ever to ensure its long-term survival.

Ree’s Café in Sudbury launched a breakfast takeaway service on Sunday, which will run three mornings every week, to help keep the business going while the public lockdown remains in place.

The café, located in King Street, initially ceased trading entirely on March 23, shortly after the lockdown was first announced, and has stayed afloat financially through a small business grant from the Government.

Owner Ria Gardiner told the Free Press the period of closure has been very difficult to deal with, particularly being unable to benefit from the usual boost in trade the business receives during periods of warmer weather.

She explained her decision to start serving people again was, in part, for her own sanity, after more than a month at home, and also due to a groundswell of demand online.

“So many people kept asking me about a takeaway service,” said Ria.

“They are missing our breakfasts and, obviously, business wise, I can’t afford to lose my customers.

“I have had a really great response. Obviously, time will tell, but, hopefully, it will be worth it. Everyone is saying they want to support us, so I hope that carries on. We need that support more than ever.

“It has been very stressful, not knowing how long this lockdown would go on for. We’re relatively new anyway, so we haven’t got a huge following. We’ve only been here for four years and we’re a bit tucked away.

“The small business grant was a lifesaver. One hundred per cent, without that, we would have closed by now. There’s no way I could have paid the bills without it.

“We go into every year worrying, and this year even more so. In the winter, we are so quiet, and where we are not able to make that up in the summer months, it is worrying.”

Ree’s Café will be open for takeaway collections on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10am to noon, offering food, such as full English breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps and muffins.

All orders must be made by 8pm the night before, and free deliveries can also be made within three miles of King Street.

To get in touch with the café, call 07976 441733.