Laura welcomes customers to Riddlers Lynda Bowyer
Coffee connoisseurs can enjoy a taste of the Italian Riviera at Riddlers Coffee Shop at Reading’s Cemetery Junction. The new boutique style coffee shop opened in February selling Fairtrade coffee, tea and hot chocolate from Kingdom Coffee, another Reading based company.
Laura Hudson, 28, carried out extensive research as she looked for the perfect place to launch her new café. “I heard that Reading has been given the title of the new place to live in the UK” said Laura. “Cemetery Junction is the next up and coming place. There is a fantastic social networking environment in the area with a wide range of personalities and professions. I realised I had found the perfect spot.”
Selling Fairtrade produce is important to Laura as is sourcing local food. “I’m trying to source local suppliers for nibbles”, she said. “Anyone that is trying to start up their own business selling cakes, sandwiches and soups please get in touch. There is a fantastic trade around here of people that want to spend money on sandwiches but I can’t find a local supplier.”
Laura’s idea was to create a community coffee shop. “I feel that communities are disbanding almost, they don’t have anywhere to go. A coffee shop, is a nice place to sit down and socialise.”
As Riddlers develops Laura hopes to promote unwired music. There is a small stage ready and waiting in the shop. “I want musicians to be able to promote their music, sell their CD’s and get experience performing in front of people” she said.
“I also want to find local artists who would like a place to display their work. People can then enjoy the art that is on the wall and purchase some affordable art from the local community. People will get to see the talent that is all around them.”
Riddlers café also has free wi-fi access. “There are a lot of people that are working remotely, a lot of work is done on line. I think it can be depressing when you are working at home with your lap top. If you need to go out and see other people just come here, work here with the free wi-fi”, suggests Laura.
Riddlers can be found at 199 London Road (next to the Co-op) and is open from 7.00am to 4.00pm. It offers a 25% discount to NHS and student card holders.
For further information please contact Laura Hudson and team via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You can also find them on Facebook at Riddlers Coffee or on Twitter @riddlerscoffee
Pictures: Lynda Bowyer
Last modified on Friday, 21 March 2014 17:01
