Dame Kelly Holmes & Brakes celebrate successful cafe birthday

Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes is celebrating two successful years with her business, Cafe 1809, in Hildenborough, Kent, with a little help from catering supplier Brakes.

To mark the birthday, Brakes called upon catering and hospitality students at The Towers School in Ashford, Kent, to make a cycling-themed cake, using the supplier’s ingredients, which was presented to Kelly, a keen cyclist, at a special birthday event.

Growing up in Hildenborough, when the opportunity arose to buy the premises, Holmes jumped at the chance and opened Café 1809, enlisting the help of Brakes to expand the menu.

Named after the champion’s winning race number, Café 1809 is designed to bring people in the community together to ‘Eat, Drink, Relax and Smile’. Brakes supplies all the ingredients for the chef-lead team to create homemade cakes, light lunches and other all-day delights.

With the help of Brakes’ account manager Jemma Fowler and its food & business development chef, Zoe Gill, Kelly now has a menu focusing on healthy, fun dishes with seasonal touches.

Holmes said, ‘Brakes’ quality of service and detailed support has always been second to none and we can always be sure that the food it provides is of top quality, The gluten-free products in particular have received lots of positive feedback from our customers.

‘It’s amazing how quickly the two years have gone. I am pleased to say that the vision of establishing a community hub which has also become a destination for cyclists, mums and young children, business men and women and the wiser generation has been reached.

‘We have some amazing plans lined up for 2017 and look forward to continuing to provide a great experience to our fantastic existing friends and welcoming new people to enjoy our space.”