The Staff and Suppliers

      Blakeys is a real family and community  business

Blakeys is the brain child of Rachael Ives and Sam Smith.

Rachael said " For years I have driven through Mulbarton or stopped and walked the dogs on the common and wondered why there wasn't a café here. The beautiful scenery is here to be enjoyed and it seemed such a shame that a park bench and a flask was the only way to do it. When I moved here in 2013 it seemed to be the most common question on residents lips. But it was obvious that premises were limited as they were all filled with long established businesses.  I therefore started to explore other possibilities and 2014 I mentioned the idea to my friend Sam and she too thought it was a great idea. The Village Plan had just been produced and the provision of a coffee shop was the top request from residents. So after some careful planning and research and a lot of conversations with councilors, trades people and planning officers the concept of Blakeys was born."

"I come from a family of foodies... we all love cooking and eating. I love to bake cakes and both my parents are keen cooks. Having travelled all over the world and enjoyed the food they have to offer we all have a very varied palette, although in my view nothing beats a slab of Victoria sponge, a scone with clotted cream and jam and a great big pot of English tea, whilst enjoying the British sun-shine."

Norfolk has a fantastic range of local produce and a number of very experienced and clever, butchers, bakers and cake decorators, so where possible produce is sourced from local suppliers. Fresh bread and cakes are delivered each morning and the café is run by Rachael and Sam with help from locally employed waitresses or 'conductors' as we prefer to call them.