Great Whelnetham business Hennessey Lifestyle opens farm shop

It was not long ago that shoppers commented on the number of coffee shops opening, but the Covid-19 crisis has forced owners of a popular café to rethink.

Hennessey Lifestyle, in Great Whelnetham, is still serving coffee and cake, but has now been reimagined as Hennessey Farm Shop. And owner John Hennessey is looking forward to the new challenge after reopening last week.

He said: “I think it is going to be a long time until coffee shops can reopen as before with customers coming in to sit down.

“We knew he had to do something or face closure.

“It has been closed for weeks but we have done it all up and now reopened as a farm shop.”

Several staff were put on furlough, but now the trade is returning and a butcher has been hired. The new shop also sells fruit, vegetables, as well as the popular wine offering. There is also a home delivery option.

The farm shop required a refit before it could open.

Mr Hennessey said: “It has been a real hard slog but things are now getting back to normal, we are trying to push things through. The lockdown has been a disaster. Getting to this point has been a struggle but we have got through it and we have customers who are supporting it.

“We are going all out.”

The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am-4.30pm, and Sundays from 10am-3.30pm.

Opening and closing times may vary in future weeks depending on footfall. For more, visit: www.hennesseylifestyle.co.uk/