Coffee shop cafe outside school

[MauveShaker]

Can I get the thoughts of you lovely lot on an idea.

My husband and I are both in the process of being made redundant (great timing together hey 😩) but we have been saying for a while we would like to do something ourselves rather than for a big corporate.

We are opposite a school and have an old horse stable style building at the bottom of our drive (solid brick not like newer style stables) that we have wanted to convert to a functional building. Since we moved in we have said we’d love to turn it into a little coffee shop/cafe/traditional sweet shop..Jack of all trades haha. We always have parents lingering at the bottom of our drive anyway so why not make it a useable space 💁🏼‍♀️

So… if you were on the school run and next to the school there was a little coffee shop/cafe would you use it? Completely appreciate there’s hurdles like planning permission we’d need to overcome first… this is just a pipe dream idea for now we need to work out if it’s something people would even want. We’re thinking we’d do kid friendly drinks/snacks aswell for the afterschool crowd.

Would love thoughts of if this is something people would use… we don’t have school age children so would be interesting to hear if it’s something people would want.

It's absolutely doable and I'm sur eit would be popular.

BUT... I know from our local village experience that it's not quick or easy, and making money can be hard. It takes a lot of time to build up a clientele. Also, remember that the school crowd might only be there first thing and in the afternoon, term time only. so you have to consider how you are going to make money the rest of the time. You can't rely soley on the school crowd.

And opening a cafe is hard. there are a lot of things that are easy to forget about in the romantic excitement - from health and safety to stock levels to pricing.

Yes sounds like a great idea

Sell coffee, snacks the latest trendy fads and toys kids might like.

Don't forget of course staff members will come out for a decent coffee and pastries and lunch items

Once you're open abd running just ask people what they'd like you to sell

You could sell second hand school uniform items that you buy cheaply off parents to sell on very cheaply

Salad bar for staff and baguettes etc

Loads of coffee shops seem to be full of school-run mums/nannies in the morning, but is there enough passing trade for the rest of the day?

There seems to be an insatiable appetite for coffee, cakes, wraps etc so it's as good a business as any - but I live in a busy area of London so many people around all day.

If your school is like ours you'd get plenty of post-drop off traffic in the morning too.

Is it a wealthy area? If so you could also sell something 'premium' that that people need on a regular basis and would otherwise have to go to the supermarket for - good bread (sourdough etc, not UPF which most bread even 'bakery' bread is), milk, cheese, decent veg, maybe English wine? Could make fresh pasta sauces. You know, posh shit . If people are just picking up a few bits they will pay more for the convenience.

And actually even if people aren't that well off you could do the same, but with more economical versions of the same thing. Basically, give people multiple reasons to come in.

I definitely would

It sounds like a great idea, but I think there are planning restrictions around some food outlets near schools so you’d need to research that too.

I’d speak to the Planning Department and see if you can get someone to come out before you spend any money and get their opinion whether it’d be likely to pass.

I’d also broach the topic with neighbours because nothing worse than a notice on a lamp post going up unannounced and getting everyone fired up (parking issues and all that).

Find out whether business rates would be applicable. A lot of businesses are exempt from rates, so if you’ve ‘no rent’ and ‘no rates’ that’s a pretty good starting position.

Also, I’d speak to the commercial end of your utility providers - gas, water, electricity and find out what they’d require because connecting a new building up to new supplies can be VERY EXPENSIVE.

Additionally, if you have a mortgage lender they’d need to be informed.They might even want a separating of these stables from the deeds etc…

Absolutely not trying to put a dampener on things. These are just hurdles I have personally came across in my own entrepreneurial endeavours.

But, yes I’d be someone that would regularly support a local independent
coffee shop.

There is a coffee shop next to my children’s school, I regularly pop in for breakfast after doing drop off and always get a take away iced latte for pick up.

Excellent idea. We had a little cafe across from our primary school. Mums always met either after drop school off or with kids at the end of the day. They catered well for the kids, little jam sandwiches or a proper dinner.

Staff will also use it. We have a van that parks nearby once a week at our secondary school. Quality home baking and barista coffee with loyalty cards. You would be mad not to take this on, I'm excited for you.

great idea, also worth speaking to your lender if there is a mortgage on the property whether this is allowed and check home insurance as well.

Yes I would, I often dream about it in my village everytime I walk past the redundant empty eyesore that used to be the shop and think that needs to be a cafe. Home made cakes coffee lunch - perfect idea. If you don't have to pay rent that's half the battle if it's your property - do it!!
Is there any other Cafes / shops in the area?

Nah, milk, bread, and snacks. You could have a self serve milk machine. Automate it so you don't need to be there constantly. Milkshake options?
E.g. https://themilkstationcompany.co.uk/

Yes i would love it

It's doable but you def can't be in it for the money!

We've actually recently had a small cafe open right near the school gate, it's much appreciated but as they're offering a more 'upmarket' menu (artisan coffee, breakfasts with halloumi and the like) I think some parents don't bother going in thinking it's expensive. In honesty, their drinks prices are the same as a Costa. One issue is that it is on a very busy road, and most parents can't stop and park to make use of the cafe. Their busiest time seems to be on a Friday after school, it's usually full of people and kids having a treat then.

Further down the road, about 200m, was a different cafe who offered more traditional fare, more similar to a greasy spoon. They did deals for the high school kids that walked past, but then had large crowds of rowdy teens that put off everyone else going in, plus litter was dropped everywhere.

There's one in our village. They get a lot of cyclists as well as school run mum's. They do a good trade in toasties, paninis and jacket potatoes at lunchtime as well.

Good idea but do a proper Business plan etc and think about what you will do in school holidays when your trade dips massively

would first investigate the planning / business use prospects since if that’s a ‘no’ that alone could make it impossible.

then would work out what household income you need. It’s probable the business wouldn’t be viable if you need much money.

Also, it’s very useful to make a tally sheet and tot up passing trade on foot outside of school pick ups and at the weekends.

The most important thing right now is to not spend any money during your information gathering

I suspect once you put together a business plan, you might not find it viable financially. It will probably take a long time to recoup the cost of the building works.

If it were me, I would consider putting together an alternative business plan with a food trailer parked on the drive, possibly with a few tables and chairs, that offered hot drinks, packed lunches, cakes, ice cream, sandwiches, soup, old fashioned pick and mix, local premium produce. You could also look at sandwich/lunch delivery to local businesses and via Deliveroo/Uber. The start up costs would probably be less. Maybe one of you could look for a job while you build the business.

There is a cafe in the village but the other end away from the school and only open 9-3 so even though they do milkshakes they completely miss out on all the school footfall

I really like the food trailer idea… we had thought of it the other way round like if it took off we could get a little horse box to take to weddings/events etc but maybe that’s the safer and smarter way to do it

There is an ice cream van outside my son's school after school from about the Easter holidays. It helps that next to the school is a massive park and field as they do a roaring trade. It's also quite a popular walk through the estate for the secondary school kids.

I would definitely use a coffee shop and many other I know would. The school sometimes does some morning events that don't start until half an hour after drop off so another time I would use one.

However, I think checking there is enough trade during holidays would be very useful. If there is another reason to travel that way, such as a park or it's a through road, brilliant!

I would love that. Also pack emergency school lunches that can be picked up before school for any excursions or sports carnivals where kids need a packed lunch. Tables and chairs would be great for mornings when parents could set off a bit early and have a coffee or hot chocolate in the morning with their kid, or even a small snack for breakfast - I know my daughter didn’t feel like eating anything first thing so a snack just before school would have worked well.