A new cafe has opened in the Whinlatter Forest as a family business continues to expand.
Customers have been flocking to Cafe Ambio since it opened at the visitor centre ahead of half term on February 17.
The Southcott family took over the lease of the former Siskins Cafe to open their fifth business after investing £100,000 in completely refurbishing the premises at Whinlatter.
Andy Southcott and his wife Gillian started an outside events company in 1999 and in 2009 opened their first cafe in Astley Park at Chorley. It was followed by another cafe opening at the Lakeland Motor Museum, Backbarrow, in 2010, and then the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre at Farleton in 2013. Their first venture into a forest was at Grizedale and now they have become established at Whinlatter.
The couple’s sons – Jon and Michael – joined the business in 2012 and have helped to take the enterprise forward. At this new cafe Jon is in charge of front of house operations while Michael takes care of the kitchen.
Local suppliers have been used to furnish the cafe which features reclaimed scaffolding for the counter front and tables. Chairs are made of steel so they can easily be cleaned and wiped down after they have been used by hikers and bikers. There are booths for privacy and Kirkby Moor slate has been used for the counter tops.
The bistro menu contains seeded rolls with a range of fillings such as rare roast beef and horseradish, coronation chicken and ham with piccalilli. The pressed cheeseburger and the Cartmel Valley smoked hot dog and a lentil and chickpea dhal are all popular dishes but the best seller is the open goat cheese toastie.
Full breakfasts are served up until 11.30am and the lunch menu to 4pm. There is a roast available every Sunday from noon.
“We had a really busy half term with a mixture of local residents and visitors coming in,” said Jon. “Since half term it’s been a good steady pace and we have been able to meet a lot of the locals.”
