A family bakery in Lisnaskea has been the go-to spot in the community for scones, cakes and more for over half a century.
The Cherry Tree Home Bakery in the Co Fermanagh town has been in the Charles family for more than 50 years, with Ashley Charles currently one of two brothers leading the charge.
Isabelle Charles and her late husband Norman first opened the Cherry Tree back in 1970 in the town.
Ashley told MyFermanagh: “It was started by my mother and father in 1970 and we are now the second generation.
“I came in 1996 and my brother came in 1990 I think it was, although my mother is still about the bakery even though she is semi-retired.
“We just can’t keep her away."
The Covid 19 pandemic has seen a boom in trade with increased staycation tourism in Co Fermanagh, and that has brought challenges to the business as well, Norman added.
“Down here we are the new Portugal. We have an awful lot of people we would never have seen before, who come from the likes of Belfast and other places.
“We’re seeing a lot of people coming through because they can’t get away.
“There’s a lot of people from the city that possibly haven’t been west of the Bann, so we’re seeing them all now.”
“Being so busy and not being able to recruit staff is a big challenge, and especially because we’re in a very small rural community.”
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