Windermere cafe owner hangs up apron after 24 years (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Windermere cafe owner hangs up apron after 24 years

10:00am Thursday 8th October 2009

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A WINDERMERE cafe owner is hanging up his apron after serving locals, celebrities, millionaires and the homeless during 24 years in catering.

Darryl Hopwood, 45, plans to retire after almost a quarter of a century at Darryl’s Cafe.

“I’ve cooked for all sorts over the years,” he said. “From down and outs to millionaires, from Dave the tramp to the Corrs, Valerie Singleton, Sim-on Cowell, soap actors, happy families, upset people who’ve missed the train and the downright miserable.”

He hopes to find a young businessperson to take over the Church Street cafe as he did when he was just 21.

Situated roughly half way between Land’s End and John O’ Groats, the cafe is a favo-urite with bikers and hikers and has drawn in thousands of hungry customers .

On one occasion Mr Hop-wood used all his resources and 280 eggs when the Doncaster Knights and Huddersfield Giants’ rugby clubs first and second teams dropped in for a big breakfast – with each player demanding eight eggs.

But the chef is not afraid of early starts. When the RAC Rally ran through Grizedale he would open the cafe at 5am.

“Over the years Mr Hopwood has brought his first aid, coun-selling, mechanics and map reading skills into play and has even put fitness to the test.

Having won the Talksports Radio favourite cafe award, the Roy Castle Gold Award for non-smoking premises and the Rough Guide good food award, Mr Hopwood plans to spend his retirement on personal projects and has just begun guitar lessons.

He said: “I’ll have mixed feelings when I finally shut the door – sad to be going but happy to move on with the next chapter of my life, spend more time with my family, get up a few mountains while I can, get a dinghy and learn to sail.”

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