A cafe in Shanklin, well-loved by Islanders far and wide, has reopened this week following a major makeover – and it’s good news for the lovers of their OG cakes and sweet treats.
Blueberrys Cafe in Shanklin reopened yesterday (Tuesday) with new owner Paul Rowling at the helm, after he acquired the site following its closure last September.
Paul, who previously built and ran the popular restaurant, The Bandstand, on Sandown Seafront, snapped up the former cafe that needed a huge renovation.
Following the passing of his wife 3 years ago, Paul left his former venture, The Bandstand, which he now rents to current occupants, Le Goût de la Mer, and decided that reopening Blueberrys Cafe would be the fresh start he and his devastated family were looking for. Paul said he saw the building as an opportunity to do something that would set up the whole family.
Looking out over the picturesque balcony of his new upstairs flat, Paul said:
“I don’t regret it, not one bit. I woke up on the morning of opening day (yesterday), and I had this nervous pit-like feeling in my stomach, but as soon as we got going it went away.”
Thanks to social media and Paul’s son, Ben, who has been documenting the journey of the family business from demolition to opening day on Facebook, Paul’s first words to me were “It’s just gone bonkers.”
Paul said:
“We opened yesterday, and Ben put a video on Instagram of us pulling up the blinds, and that was it, it just went mad.
” 24-hours later we opened at 09:00 this morning, and by 10:00 we had 90 people in here, the cafe was full within the hour, and it never stopped until 2 O’clock when we said, ‘ That’s it. We’ve run out of milk, we’ve run out of baguettes, we’ve run out of cake, we had run out of everything, but we’ll get used to that.”
“I’m an old boy, I never ever expected this, I didn’t realise what social media does.”
“I’ve never known something like this, I mean I built the Banstand and that went mad but this is even madder, this is good.”
“We have had so many lovely comments, it has been fantastic.”
At the time, the announcement of the closure shocked Islanders who travelled to the cliff-top cafe for previous owners, Liam and Claire Eede’s infamous cakes. Knowing what kept the business alive, new owner Paul joined forces with The Cakeaway Cart, Claire and Liam’s new endeavour, who now provide the all-new Blueberrys Cafe with a selection of cakes and treats.
Taking to The Cakeaway Cart’s social media yesterday, Claire and Liam said:
“As a much-loved part of the local community, Blueberrys Cafe has been missed by many, and we’re delighted to see the cafe starting a new chapter.”
The family-run venture really does include the whole family; Paul’s 3 sons, his niece, sister-in-law, and grandson have all left their previous jobs to commit themselves to the mammoth task of opening a cafe, and an intensely popular one at that.
Speaking of his intentions with the business, where he wants it to go and why he took the leap of faith, Paul said:
“I’m carrying on during the summer to make sure that everything turns out right and then I’ll take a bit of a backseat; they will be running it.”
“I lost my wife 3-years ago to cancer, and that’s why I left the Banstand. Then this came up for sale with the flat upstairs for me, so I sold my house, and I rebuilt this.”
When asked whether he looked at Blueberrys as a fresh start following the passing of his wife, Paul emotionally said:
“It has, it has, me and my wife built a 4-bedroom house 23 years ago and then this came up. It was sad to leave it, but I knew I was coming here. I wondered if I would feel right upstairs, but I’m on my fourth night, and I do.
“They (Paul’s family) worry about me, but I’m alright.
“I miss my wife like anything, but I’ve got all my family around me.”
When asked whether the new venture was about bringing the family together following the passing of his wife and their mum, Paul said:
“It has been, it always has been, yeah it always has been. Jake (Paul’s son), who is the chef now and was the chef down at the Banstand, obviously lost his mum, Ben, who does our social media lost his mum, and you feel kind of responsible.
“Jake was a good chef, and I wanted to set him up so he’s now got his own kitchen, and he runs it. And Ben has taken control of all the Facebook, all the social media work, and he’s now left his other job because he wants to be here.
“I am amazed that this has provided a space for everyone because they were both in jobs they didn’t like.”
Joking about the chaos of the last day, Paul went on to say:
“But I don’t know, after the last 24-hours, I think we made a mistake, but it’ll be alright.”
