The cost of living crisis, increased energy bills and spiralling inflation are forcing an award-winning Ripon cafe to close its doors in a month’s time.
Caffe Tempo, based at The Arcade since the summer of 2017, has won the Restaurant Guru Best Coffeehouse in Ripon title for six consecutive years, along with Tripadvisor awards last year and in 2020.
But it said numerous financial challenges outside of its control have made the business unviable.
Owner Tina Whincup (pictured above) told the Stray Ferret:
“Our annual turnover has grown to around £220,000, but we haven’t been able to make a profit because all of our bills have gone up.”
Office for National Statistics figures released this week showed year-on-year inflation remaining at 8.7%, but Ms Whincup said:
“The reality is that many of the raw products that we use for the items that we bake, have increased between 100% and 300%.
“To transfer this to the items that we sell makes them so expensive that they go from every day purchases made by our customers, to a once in a while treat.”
She added:
“Although we have remained busy every day, the average spend per person has reduced significantly and it is with great sadness that we are calling time on Caffe Tempo. Our last day of trading will Saturday July 22.
“This has not been an easy decision for us, but unfortunately the challenges the hospitality industry has faced and continued to face have reached the point of no return.
“Our industry has had the worst three years in modern history, with two years of on-off closures, a cost of living crisis and also a shortage of staff.
“When we add in the increase in minimum wage, energy costs at over £900 per month, which could increase to £1,800 per month, when our current contract comes to an end, we find ourselves in a situation that is no longer viable.”
Staffing shortages have seen Ms Whincup working 70 hour weeks since the years of covid closures to keep the business going, but she is now looking elsewhere for employment, along with her two members of staff, including her daughter Elise.
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Santa’s Ripon story time promises a happy ending for charity
A charity that supports desperately ill children and their families will benefit for the fourth consecutive year from a fundraising event staged by Ripon cafe owner Tina Whincup.
Ms Whincup, who owns Caffe Tempo in The Arcade, will be hosting story time with Santa on the evenings of December 13 and 14, to raise money for Yorkshire Children’s Trust.
The popularity of the event is underlined by the fact that tickets sold out within days of going on sale.
Santa will be reading Christmas stories at Caffe Tempo next month to raise money for Yorkshire Children’s Trust.
Ms Whincup told the Stray Ferret:
“We are going to raise a record of at least £700 this year through ticket sales and a silent auction being conducted online for an exclusive Caffe Tempo jumper, made for us by The British Christmas Jumper Company.
“The trust is a wonderful charity that helps families across Yorkshire and I would encourage people to support them in whatever way they can.”
The auction for the jumper lasts until Sunday (November 20) and anybody wanting to make a bid can find out more details by clicking here.
Yorkshire Children’s Trust was founded by two sets of parents after their daughters were diagnosed with leukaemia. The charity helps children and their families cope with the emotional and financial strain of many life-changing illnesses, something the founders of the charity understand after dealing with their own children going through the long and harsh treatments for cancer.
The charity doesn’t receive any lottery, NHS or government funding and relies heavily on voluntary donations.