Emma Hall said changing her career during lockdown to launch The Peaky Grinder was “the best choice she ever made”.
Ms Hall first started taking the mobile coffee van to food markets and festivals, but has grown the business to specialise in serving corporate and private events.
The 53-year-old said: “I was made redundant in March during lockdown and I met my neighbour Rob on VE Day the same year. I think a lot of people saw lockdown as a chance to regroup – I knew I wanted to work for myself but I wasn’t sure what to do.
“The rules had lifted a bit at the time and me and Rob had started dating. One of the days we saw this coffee van. Rob turned to me and said, ‘You should do something like that’. I thought this could be a viable business, and the idea just grew from there.
“It was really down to Rob’s support and encouragement.”
In January 2021, Ms Hall did a lot of research and bought a van that they converted.
Five years later and the business has “really taken off” with Ms Hall now also preparing to get married.
She said: “We started off doing festivals, but sometimes it was a bit difficult for footfall. I made the decision to completely flip the business model to focus on corporate and private events. The past five years have gone better than expected – the business has really taken off. It’s been amazing.
“May is an incredible month for me. It’s my birthday, the anniversary of The Peaky Grinder and I’m also getting married to Rob. We’re both in our 50s, so it really feels like we’ve been given a second chance.”
The business is now expanding with Ms Hall buying a second van.
The Peaky Grinder, which offers freshly ground barista coffee, speciality iced coffees, hot chocolates, tea infusions, cold drinks, cakes, pastries, traybakes and more, caters for corporate and private events from networking and staff appreciation days to product launches and weddings.
Ms Hall, who lives in Heightington, said: “We’ve had big companies like Amazon asking us to quote to cater 300 people. We did it and they’ve since invited us back. Rob has his own business, so that has been helpful insight, and working for myself has been great to get a better work life balance.
“If people ever want to come and sample my coffee, then I’m doing some events at Lickhill Manor Caravan Park. People can also contact me via the website.
“It’s been a massive change from working in the travel industry, but it’s the best choice I ever made.”
To find out more about The Peaky Grinder visit the Facebook page, Instagram @peakinggrindercoffee or https://thepeakygrinder.co.uk/
Leave a comment