6 minute read
Coffee Time
from STONES Vol.1
Kooky Nohmad was created by local nohmads, who were moving from cafe to coffee shop, looking for a place to settle over a coffee and manage their working day. This became an opportunity to embrace the new modern era of home working, which has accelerated due to the effects of the pandemic. Their aim was to rewrite the script and provide something for all. Whether it be having a leisurely catch up over coffee or being able to jump into a booth to take a business call, or perhaps a mix of both; Kooky offers a solution for all. One year on and Kooky Nohmad has been through a journey. Kooky has been described by some of its customers as ‘a breath of fresh air’ to the Royston High Street at a time when the community was in need of ‘coming together’ and they are not wrong! Bringing a sense of style to the high street with its unique offering, diverse brunch menu, artisan coffee, workspace and much more, it’s clear to see why it’s had such a successful first year. Kooky has an energetic vibe in which you can relax, enjoy healthy food and drink, whilst surrounded by like-minded creatives. The Kooky community is growing and growing making it an excellent place to visit and to be a part of. After their journey began at a tough time, the Kooky team have taken it all in their stride. Having opened initially as a takeaway in the early stages due to government guidelines, Kooky was well-positioned to deliver against the demand for all those Nohmads wandering around the town on daily walks looking for a place to graze or grab a refreshment with its sliding window hatch. It provided people with at least a sense of normality throughout what was a difficult time for all. As Kooky was inspired by European coffee culture prior to the pandemic, it enabled them to quickly adapt to life as we knew it with their team of baristas serving numerous coffees and healthy takeaway options, without anyone having to come inside. Even without their doors opened, Kooky still managed to establish a sense of community with their customers which continued through all the changes in restrictions. The timing wasn’t perfect, but they have certainly made the most of the situation and proved to be a great example of agility through the recent challenges, which has set them up perfectly now that their doors are open, and the town can experience so much more of what it has to offer.
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As the hospitality industry gradually reopened; firstly, with outdoor eating and more recently indoor dining, Kooky has grown in stature with every move. The outdoor seating has created a fantastic and social atmosphere along the high street, where a gentle rumble of chatter can be heard from people enjoying time together over a delicious coffee, following months of living in isolation. Now that the doors are wide open, we are now able to truly enjoy the full extent of what Kooky has to offer for so many different walks of life in the town. Its rustic yet modern decor, accompanied by interchanging art from local artists provides the perfect setting for so many individuals. Whether it’s for a coffee catch up, brunch, lunch, a few hours at the ‘office’ or a central base for your business, Kooky aims to cater for all. Kooky has an exciting range of food available, we have worked our way through most of the dishes on the menu during our tasting session and it certainly did not disappoint. With a wide range of options on the menu to cater for vegetarians, vegans and all of those in-between. It also caters for those looking to make a healthy choice as well as those looking for something a little bit more naughty.
“We wanted to create a space and offering unique to Royston that provides a little for everyone in the community” Josh Murphy, Co-Founder Kooky Nohmad
Above: Chef Ross adding finishing touches to grilled asparagus, with poached egg and grilled potato rosti.
Top left: Kooky’s popular overnight oats with a summer berry compote.
Left: Start your morning with Kooky’s Granola bowl with coconut yogurt and cherry compote.
K O O K Y M E A N S BUSINESS
Glenn Sparkes of Brick Images. Photo supplied by:
Finding co-working “offices” too stuffy and cafes not accommodating enough for important business calls. Kooky has designed something that offers a space for the casual worker all the way through to being a resident business, such as Ensum Brown Estate Agency and Sanders and Jay, Design and Marketing Agency who have both flourished during the past year capitalising on being associated with Kooky and its sense of community. Kooky is perfect for a range of business people, from creative freelancers, startups to bigger businesses. Although Kooky isn’t an exclusive membership club they do have a variety of membership options available that allows you to make the most of their space through the use of private hire meeting rooms, phone booths and printing options.
Not only does Kooky make an excellent place to work, but all those in there get the chance to network with the other businesses. Whether you are popping in for a meeting or spending the day working there you have the chance to chat with other business people from the local area and make those all-important connections. Businesses have found that throughout the last year the chance to network with other businesses has been difficult, so the social interaction Kooky provides has been perfect for businesses looking to thrive. The fantastic team of staff also are on hand to keep you fuelled with coffee, refreshments and a smile, which has been a saving grace for many business people, during such an isolating time. Hearing from some of the businesses that are based in Kooky, it’s clear to see that it’s been a huge contributing factor to the success of these local businesses. So if you’re a business looking for an agile working environment, maybe joining the Kooky Nohmad business community might be for you, after all, who wouldn’t want to work somewhere surrounded by delicious coffee, food and drink?
Left: One of our private meeting rooms available to book online.
“Being based in Kooky is fantastic for our business, where we have the ability to scale up without the pressure of owning or renting a big premise, meet people every day in the ‘office’ rather than waiting for people to come to us. Kooky has been fundamental to our growth as a business where we are now no.1 estate agency in Royston. There have been 3 big benefits, one being the social interaction between our team and with other businesses. The collaborative environment it creates and finally the service we get from the excellent staff that really look after us” Neil Wise, Founder of Ensum Brown Estate Agency.
WHERE DETAIL MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
www.britishraj.co.uk
High Street, Barley, Royston, SG8 8HY 01763 802 505, www.foxandhoundsbarley.com @foxhoundsbarley