A BOWNESS cafe owner has celebrated a year in charge of her own business – despite opening at an almost impossible moment.

Kerry Jones took on running the Elephant and Camel Cafe on Windermere Bank in December, 2009, sandwiched between the November floods and January’s chaotic big freeze.

She has marked the end of her first year of offering internet access alongside a host of mainly vegetarian treats with an evening attended by Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron.

Reflecting on her year at the helm, Kerry said: “It was a challenging time to open, and added to that, the cafe had been closed for nearly three months as the previous owners had gone abroad.”

However, the cafe is now proving popular with locals and tourists alike as Kerry wins over new customers with her unique establishment.

She said: “I wanted to offer something a little different.

"Though I'm not a vegetarian, I've always been surprised that Bowness does not have somewhere where vegetarian dishes are the primary focus.”

Kerry also noticed that people's tastes were changing as we all tend to travel more and so introduced Asian and Middle Eastern styles and spices to the mix.

All the food is prepared on the premises and Kerry uses only local and Fair Trade suppliers for her vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

As well as the food, refreshments and internet access, Kerry is always looking for new ways to help customers feel at home – such as board games.

She added: “I visited a friend in Cornwall a couple of years ago and we went to a cafe where we were able to play Scrabble while we drank our coffee.

"I thought it was a really great idea and an obvious thing to include when I opened my business.”

For those of a more serious mind, the Elephant and Camel Cafe can be a meeting place for discussion groups either casually or privately by arrangement – plans are already under way to start an Amnesty International letter writing group.

The Elephant and Camel Cafe can also offer evening entertainment.

Kerry added: “I already have a number of contacts who perform international folk dance styles and I've had enquires from people connected with Mostly Acoustic Cumbria about using the venue so a programme of food and entertain-ment evenings is taking shape.”

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