The owner of a popular vegan and vegetarian cafe which reopened under new management in 2023 after staff were made redundant on Christmas Eve 2022 has thanked the community for their support.

The Wild Oak reopened its door six months after The Great Oak Cafe closed due to crippling running costs.

Wil Wild said the past six months had been “quite a rollercoaster, but we have loved every minute”.

“Last Christmas Eve, when staff and customers alike were reeling with shock at the abrupt closure of The Great Oak Café after 40 years of trading, who would have thought that we would be where we are today? Certainly not us, at the time! 

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“It’s been an absolute whirlwind - starting with some pretty big decisions, applications, business plans and decorating - replacing every single cup, plate, spoon and stick of furniture, re-staffing, re-training, re-opening.

“Now all of a sudden six months of The Wild Oak is behind us in a flash!

“With such support from the community, the Trust, our family and friends, an amazing, hard-working and all-round wonderful staff team and most importantly our fantastic customers, it’s been an absolute blast! 

“It’s been quite the rollercoaster, but we have loved every minute - thank you, lovely people, for everything.”