Owner of Brown Sugar, in Hall Street, Long Melford, prepares to relocate to ‘bigger and better’ site in the village

The owner of a village coffee shop has said she is looking forward to relocating her business to a ‘bigger and better place’.

Rachael Brown, of Long Melford, has been running Brown Sugar in Hall Street since September 2023.

After 18 months of trading, she made the decision to close the current site and move to larger premises across the road.

Rachael made the announcement on social media, saying: “Some of you may have seen the pink paint.

“Such exciting times and I can’t wait to have Mellow Hair Salon as neighbours.

“I’m so excited for you all to come and see my new space. Keep you eyes peeled. I’m hoping to get it open very soon.”

Rachael previously told SuffolkNews that it was her dream to open a coffee shop in the village where she has lived for 15 years.

She has worked in the hospitality industry for 18 years, holding down roles in bars, restaurants and cafés and has previously managed The Swan pub in the village.

Before opening Brown Sugar, she ran her own bespoke bakery service called Thirty Three Bakes for four years.

The 38-year-old added: “It’s pretty small where I am now. It was a great place to start, but we have outgrown it now.

“It’s time to go somewhere a bit bigger. When the new site came up, it seemed like the perfect evolution to move and it’s only across the road so it’s not far.”

The current site will be closed from Sunday, February 9 while Rachel relocates to the new site, which she hopes to open on February 14.