The Retreat cafe, Tea Rooms and Restaurant
Approximately three years ago former Retreat volunteers Sue and her husband Ron moved from their home in Essex to open a Vegetarian/Vegan cafe and tea rooms in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, we were honoured that they decided to name their new venture after ourselves. Since the move they have kept in contact and spread the word in their cafe by handing out our leaflets and newsletters, not only that but they send regular donations. For our latest newsletter (Summer 2007) we asked Sue if she would like to do an article about their move. The article is reproduced below:-
I can’t really remember when I met Billy, I think the first time was at a demonstration in Cambridge and I was so bowled over by this young man who ran an animal sanctuary and somehow still found time to go to demonstrations against vivisection or live exports. I found out about the Retreat and became a Saturday volunteer. It was then I realised just how much Billy, Neil and the volunteers do at the Retreat and that my Saturday slot was just a drop in the ocean of this never ending hard work. All those who volunteer at the Retreat are fantastic in their commitment and dedication to caring for all the animals, for those who are there already and those who will be lucky enough to be rescued and given a second chance at the Retreat or go to a new loving home. I was lucky enough to go along on several rescue operations and had the immense satisfaction of seeing these animals being given a chance of living out the rest of their days in a loving, caring and safe environment.
I knew my days as a volunteer were coming to an end as my husband, Ron, and I had decided to make a life style change – to leave our jobs and open a vegetarian/vegan café in the Yorkshire dales. Why Yorkshire? Well we both love the dales and enjoy walking but we were told we must be bonkers to open a vegetarian establishment in the middle of sheep and dairy farming country. Well, three years on we are still here and growing stronger. I have always been a keen cook and love baking and as a vegan I want to prove that lovely, healthy and cruelty free food can be enjoyed by everyone who tries it. I am very sneaky and have cakes in our cake display cabinet which are vegan but I don’t advertise them as dairy free because people won’t try it, and the dairy free chocolate fudge cake is our best seller!! We employ ten local people to help us run the café and since February 2007 have started our Friday night evening restaurant (previously we had only opened during the day). At the moment it is held on the last Friday in the month and the theme is seasonal, organic where possible and locally sourced foods, so each month the menu is different. These evenings have been a great success having been fully booked every time. I really enjoy the restaurant nights as it gives me the opportunity to use my skills as a cordon vert trained cook.
Dotted around the café are leaflets from VIVA, CIWF and Animal Aid and I am always restocking these leaflets so hopefully we are helping in a small way to get the message across. We welcome dogs into the café who are greeted by our own little dog Biffo. Biffo is the café Maitre D and he earns his keep by meeting and greeting all those who come in. Biffo has to wear a little scarf with “please don’t feed me” as he was getting too plump from all the tit bits given to him from kind customers who obviously thought he was a poor starving stray. Biffo always used to accompany me when I worked as a volunteer at the Retreat and he was always up to his neck in mud and muck but he loved every minute of it.
Biffo - with his "please don't feed me" scarf on.
Our link with the Retreat did not end when we left. We send small regular donations from the “tips” and host charity folk nights. On each table is a laminated booklet about the Retreat for the customers to look through while they drink their tea. This booklet inspired a customer to donate £40.00 – she was going to spend the money on a hat but after reading about the Retreat, with moist eyes, she forewent her hat and donated the money to the Retreat instead. This wonderful kind lady and her husband have gone on to donate thousands of pounds to the Retreat – so you never know who is going to walk in the door. A huge thank you to Monica and Brian, who have now become dear friends. Many people leave five pounds or ten pounds in the Retreat box and also a shop in the village has a Retreat charity box on the counter. I am very grateful for the kindness and generosity of people.
Two lucky dogs from the Retreat (both with terrible backgrounds) have found good and loving homes in Yorkshire; Billy (formally Bobby) a little black Patterdale and Alfie a beautiful lurcher. Little Billy’s owners came into the café to show him off a few weeks ago and told me that when they had taken him out for a walk and a drink at their local a man came up to them and offered them £50 for Billy, I can’t type their answer but you can image what they said to him.
This is lucky Billy, nee Bobby Biffo enjoys joining ladies who lunch
Billy and Neil have popped up to see me on several occasions, and on the last occasion Billy came across a poorly pigeon in Whitby, this lucky pigeon now lives at the Retreat with all the other birds – even when he is supposed to be having a break Billy is always aware of animal suffering –the Retreat is a wonderful place and I feel privileged to know Billy and Neil and still be in a small way connected to the Retreat.
The Retreat Cafe, Tea Rooms and Restaurant
14–16 Main Street, Grassington, North Yorkshire, BD23 5AA.
01756 751887. www.theretreatcafe.co.uk