A Halewood coffee shop is attracting local customers to the farm life, with its delicious food and scenic views.
Yew Tree Coffee Barn, on Lower Road, is owned by Katie Wilkes, who decided she wanted to expand on her parents long-established farming business while on a gap year at age 18.
First she completed an International Business degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, worked to save money for five years, and eventually in 2013 converted her dad’s old tractor shed into the popular coffee shop that we see today.
Now 34, Katie, who grew up on Yew Tree Farm, said: "We’ve been open six years this year.
"I went travelling when I was 18 and I got the coffee bug and thought that was something I wanted to do.
"There weren't a lot places in Halewood to go for a coffee. Years ago, my friends and I would go to Borders in Speke, but then that shut.
"It was what I wanted to do. I felt young when I did it and I've seen the good and the bad, but it’s a great business and I love it."
Katie describes the coffee barn's interior as rustic. She said she didn’t need to spend too much money converting it as its original feel and farm decor is what attracts a lot of families.
Looking out onto the beautiful surrounding fields, visitors can enjoy all-day breakfasts, lunches and drinks - while having a peek at the farm animals.
On warm days, customers can sit in the outdoor seating area, where they can see chickens, goats, donkeys and - soon - alpacas.
In winter, families can stay toasty inside, where there is a cosy log fire, and watch the farms barn owls progress on the television. For the past five years they have had chicks.
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Katie said she wanted to keep providing the high quality products from around the North West that her parents, who have lived on the farm for nearly 40 years, used in their farm shop. The shop closed last year after 38 years in business.
She plans to continue to expand the farm's business ventures, with an upcoming project to be completed in September.
Katie and her sister, Rachel Maskell, have been turning the old farm into a brand new wedding and event venue.
Katie said: “We get so many enquires about weddings and events and the Coffee Barn is only one room.
“So it was all the enquiries we were getting that made us take the plunge.”
