Colmans acquires Whitburn cafe

The family behind one of the North East’s busiest fish and chip shops has acquired a much-loved café at the heart of a South Tyneside community.

Richard Ord Jnr, co-owner and director of Colmans Fish and Chips in South Shields, made an offer on The Village Café in Whitburn on the day it went up for sale. The café had been owned and operated by the Hopper family for more than half a century.

Richard explained: “I popped into the café for breakfast the day after Peter and Fran had decided to put it up for sale. We got chatting and I put in an offer later that day. Whitburn is our family’s home and the Village Café holds so many fond memories for all of us.

“The two families have known each other for decades, going back to when our grandparents were neighbours. We all loved going to the café as kids and continuing to visit as we’ve grown up. I take my own children there now.”

Colmans will retain two existing members of staff ahead of the café’s reopening later this summer, when it will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch to the people of Whitburn. The menu will include what Richard describes as the best Sunday lunch for miles around, alongside “great coffee”.

Plans are also in place to maximise the potential of the café’s outdoor space and secure an alcohol licence – and Richard has not ruled out adding Colmans’ famous fish and chips to the menu in the future.

Richard added: “We’re going to refurbish the café and put our own stamp on it but we won’t change too much. Why would we? The Village Café is known for its family feel and for fostering a real sense of community. The name and the ethos will stay the same.”

Later this year, work will begin on a new Colmans-helmed coastal village, adjacent to the Seafood Temple, as Richard and his fellow director, brother Dominic, continue to diversify and expand.