18-year-old to transform village cafe after taking over ownership

An 18-year-old from Lincoln is taking over a former village cafe which has been left empty for months. Byron Bett will soon be re-opening the doors to The Allotment in Collingham, near Newark, with a complete transformation.

The cafe closed in July 2024 and has remained empty for months, but Byron plans to have it open again in early December. However, he has "reinvented" the business, and shared there will be a brand new menu and furnishings across the site.

He added that the new menu will not all be plant-based like it had been under the previous ownership, and instead the menu will have a range of offerings for everyone. Byron explained: "It's still going to be called The Allotment but we are reinventing it.

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"We are changing all of the menu, we are not going to be just vegan anymore and we are changing it up from what it was." Byron is the new owner of The Allotment, following in the footsteps of his parents who own The Boat House at Thorpe on Hill and Torksey Lock Coffee House in Lincolnshire, as well as The Coffee Chain in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Byron has been working in the family cafes for years and has gained a lot of knowledge and experience during this time on running a business. He has recently finished his A-levels and will now be completing a level three apprenticeship through Lincoln College whilst running the business.

The 18-year old shared: "It's exciting, but it is a bit nerve-wracking to a open a business at 18. I've been doing it for a while know so I know what it is all about, it's exciting."

The dog-friendly cafe will have "similar offerings" to other cafes owned by the family, such as a focus on feel-good food, delicious coffees and sweet treats. Byron added: "It's going to have a new menu but we are still going to have vegan and gluten free options to include everyone.

"We are hoping in the future it could open Saturday nights too and we could do sharing plates and charcuterie boards." His dad and fellow business owner added: "It's all a bit chaotic at the moment getting it ready and sorted, but there will be a massive change in the way it is decorated."

He shared that the new cafe in the family group has "a great team" of people behind it, and eight jobs have been created for the area.