LUX Restaurant & Bar Awards 2019

www.lux-review.com Page 121 launderette next door. Space is tight, but it has been completely filled to create a space visitors can really unwind in and explore. One wall takes up gifts whilst another has bar-stool window-seating with a view looking out to sea. A small sofa and two chairs surround a coffee table offering newspapers to pass the time whilst customers wait for the ferry. The décor is bright and airy, with a quirky feature wall. Customer care is high on the coffee-shop’s priority list together with attention to detail and ethical retailing. Disposable coffee cups and lids are 100% compostable, as are straws and stirrers. Packaging is paper-based. Filtered water is from the tap and is free, and there are no pre-packed butter, sugar or jam portions. Gluten and dairy free options are always available, and customers have the choice of a variety of milks including almond and soya and all the snacks are healthy, right down to the broccoli-based crisps. None of the gifts come wrapped in plastic and drinks are in glass or cans, making Yellow Hare the island’s first single-use plastic-free business. All of this may seem standard fare in todays’ environmentally aware world, but for a small business on an island as remote as Tiree, it is no small feat. Getting the right coffee machine was just as important as finding the best coffee supplier, as Kate highlights. “Coffee is more than just a drink. I spent a year researching coffee machines and seeking out the best coffee; phoning and trekking round on foot from place to place, checking out other cafes and their suppliers, until I found the one I really liked. It was a fascinating learning curve.” All staff were flown to the mainland for barista training before the cafe opened and this was followed up with a refresher course a few weeks later on-site to ensure everyone was familiar with the new machine. All new staff are given barista training before they start. Above all, Kate believes a good café begins and ends with good staff, as she is eager to emphasise. “We have a great team who are always willing to go that extra mile for the customer, and I think it’s important to recognize and reward that. Continual training is important, of course; but having staff who really want to provide good service with a smile – I don’t take that for granted. I appreciate that more than anything.” Frances, who has been with Yellow Hare since shortly after it opened, remains enthusiastic; “It’s a small and friendly shop with a great atmosphere. It’s lovely to meet new people and chat with the customers and let visitors know a bit more about our beautiful island.” Ultimately, despite the speed at which this new business has developed since opening less than a year ago, Kate is keen not to rest on her laurels, as she concludes. “There’s always room for improvement and there will always be something you haven’t thought of. Keeping an open mind is crucial, I think, particularly for small businesses. I don’t like to close my mind to anything. The best ideas often come from the most unexpected sources.” Company: Yellow Hare Contact: Kate MacLeod Phone: 01879 220 440 Website: www.yellowhare.co.uk