Your High Street: New cafe owner says focus on family and local people are keys to success

Charlotte Court, 35, of Hastings Avenue runs the cafe with her husband Matthew Holland.

She was speaking as part of the Penarth Times' Your High Street: Use It or Lose It campaign which aims to promote the high streets in the town and increase usage of local shops.

They officially opened Willmore's 1938 on Stanwell Road on Thursday, February 3.

The name is in reference to the Willmore brothers who came to Penarth in the 1920s, setting up a cinema and designing the renowned Washington Buildings where the cafe is based.

It is a family run business and the owners are both Penarth born and bred and still live in the town with their three children.

"The opportunity came up so we decided to take it," said Ms Court. "We pride ourselves on home cooking with home made fresh and local produce including fruit and vegetables, meat and cakes and pastries.

"It is family orientated and there is nice chilled out and relaxed atmosphere during the week with casual dining on Fridays and Saturdays."

She said the family aspect of the business is important because there are fewer family-run businesses in the town these days.

Ms Court says the support of other local businesses has been great in helping them get started.

"We have had nothing from support from all local businesses.

"It would be nice to have some sort of Penarth forum of businesses but we do all support each other," she said.

She said the issue of parking would never go away but wanted to stress the positives and not the negatives of the town.

"This is a beautiful seaside town that has got nearly everything and it is up and coming.

"There are lots of positive things happening in Penarth.

"People like the fact that we are family run and we have got regulars already even though we have only been here a few weeks," she said.

She said they have a fantastic local chef in Andy Jones and are keen to give back to the town which has given them so much.