The recently opened coffee shop within the new extension and gardens at Ruddington’s knitting and textile museum is now officially in new hands – following its ‘launch’ this weekend.
The Split Screen Coffee Company – which has previously traded from The Bottle Top on High Street as well as from its famous converted VW camper van – is now running the hospitality area at Parker’s Yard within the former ‘Gunn Cottage’. Along with the museum gift shop and its Old Chapel, these are areas of Ruddington’s internationally famous tourist attraction which can be accessed without needing to pay an entrance fee.
Trustees, friends and supporters of The Framework Knitters’ Museum were invited along yesterday evening (9th July) to help business owners Jen Walker and Mike Gaunt christen their new village venture with canapés, cakes and refreshments. The glorious summer’s evening meant there was no shortage of space for the guests to gather and chat across both the recently completed indoor and outdoor spaces.
The couple started their Split Screen Coffee business in 2015 when Jen decided to leave teaching: “I loved being a teacher but I found myself working in the evenings instead of spending time with my own children” she explains. “Mike had inherited some money after the sudden death of his parents so we decided to use it to invest in a new business. We had a bay window camper that we used as a family but, when we saw ‘May’ for sale, we thought it would be ideal. Coffee and campers. Perfect!”
With the converted VW van inspiring their trading name, ‘May’ was the main focus of the business originally – and remains an important part of it today. “We still get out on weekends in the van; markets, festivals, weddings, anywhere that needs good coffee but we also have our bags for sale so people can use it at home. There is a big trend to have better coffee at home and the methods of brewing are countless. We often get people asking how to make their coffees at home better and we have also been approached by other businesses including the Bead Shop in Nottingham and Tilly’s Tea Room & Gift Shop in Metheringham to use our coffee.”
Until now their most famous Ruddington association has been with The Bottle Top, which started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, when ‘lockdown’ meant they could no longer go and about: “I am not sure we would have made it through these past three years without the support we got from Alex and Anthony at the Bottle Top” admits Jen. “It was only meant to have lasted a few months but June marked the second anniversary of our ‘residency’! We are so grateful for what they have done for us and our business. However, being offered the opportunity to have my own space at Parker’s Yard was too good an opportunity to miss – I couldn’t say no! The Bottle Top will still be doing coffees to drink in and takeaway so very little will change for their customers.”
As before, Jen reveals it won’t just be coffees you can buy in their new venue: “We will continue to get our cakes, cookies and scones from our friend Fran at ‘Sugarberry’ in Sneinton and we have also started getting ‘Tough Mary’s’ pastries and bread again on Wednesdays and Fridays. We are also thinking about what would be a good lunch offering moving forward for people visiting the museum and those who just want a spot of lunch in the cafe.”
Although husband Mike remains a teacher, at Farnborough College in Clifton, he will continue to help out with Split Screen Coffee: “He’s still taking May our campervan to markets. He always got roped in to help on weekends and the odd day in the shop, so you will definitely see him pouring coffees at Parker’s Yard. We have always been a family business so getting the kids involved is next. However, we will also have many of the staff you have grown to love at markets and the Bottle Top – and I have also recently asked Rachel Bye to join the team. She is already making fab coffees and excellent chat. Having volunteers is fundamental to the museum and we have loved getting to know them these past few weeks.”
Jen says last night’s ‘launch party’ was by way of a ‘thank you’: “Sarah Godfrey, the new Manager of Operation, Jan Perett, Helen and all the trustees and volunteers have been so welcoming and supportive of the new venture. We really can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done – but attempted to do so with a bit of Pimms in the garden!”
Sarah says the gesture was much appreciated: “Jen and Mike from Split Screen Coffee are the perfect cafe professionals to take care of the museum’s food and drink provision. They make great coffee and are well loved people of our community. They have certainly brought some life into our Parker’s Yard area. It has already become a community hub that both locals and museum
visitors can enjoy.”
In terms of trading times, Jen adds: “So far we have stuck to the museum opening hours while we get used to the new space. We are a separate business so will start to see what would be best for us as a cafe independent of the museum. We are really wanting to get the message out to everyone that they can visit the cafe whether they want to have a look at the museum or not, but we will always encourage people to support the amazing museum if they pop in for a coffee. We really do want people to understand that we are still offering our take-away service that has been very popular, and those people who have developed a taste for our particular coffee can still grab a cup as they always have.”
During the summer The Framework Knitters’ Museum and Parker’s Yard are open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 4pm.
