The Covid 19 pandemic and accompanying restrictions has had a significant impact on the hospitality industry across Tyrone and further afield, but one local entrepreneur has used the difficult period to bring something unique to her town.
Forage and Folk, recently opened on High Street in the town, is bringing artisan food and gifts to the people of Omagh in its quaint new premises.
Owner Kate Golding, who also runs popular cafe The Kitchen in Omagh, told MyTyrone that the emphasis at Forage and Folk is all about using local suppliers to support other regional businesses.
Kate said: “As the pandemic took hold we wanted to look into new ways of branching out and bringing something unique to the town.
“A listed building on High Street became available in January and we jumped at the chance to take over this gorgeous premises and just ran with it.”
“We bake all our own pastries and breads in house and everything is sourced from our end with local producers.”
The cafe has created 10 jobs in the town and the idea for the new venture came to Kate as a result of the uncertainty in the hospitality industr.
She added: “It’s something I always wanted to do anyway and I felt there was a niche in the market in Omagh for a gift shop and myself and my husband just went for it.
“It was about wanting to support local people and producers. One of the girls makes all our jams and preserves for us and we love supporting her because she was finding it difficult going through lockdown.
“It’s important to see each other through the crazy times we are having at the moment.”
Kate admitted there were several times along the way that she questioned whether opening up a new business at this time was the right move.
She explained: “It was nerve wracking and there were several times I thought to myself what have I done?
“You just have to persevere, if you don’t take a risk in life you’re not going to succeed really.”
“If you’re coming in to Forage and Folk, down to even the bread in your sandwich, we bake everything in house. We’re really proud of what we’re producing.”
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