An environmentally aware business which has increased the size of its team seven-fold has celebrated its first successful year of trading.

EBIKE Cafe @ Deheers champions an active lifestyle, healthier eating and a positive mental wellbeing.

The business, alongside the Old Weymouth Harbourside, is owned by Peter Claxton and Josephine Parker.

Peter said: “We opened our doors with some trepidation last year.

“It was the height of the pandemic with lockdown restrictions in place, and all around us, we were seeing the sad demise of the high street.

“However, we did not foresee the incredible support we have received from our customers and locals.

“The demand for eBikes has been unprecedented and we are now taking orders well into 2022.”

Josephine runs the cafe following the company ethos of keeping the carbon footprint as low as possible, sourcing locally and promoting healthy eating.

She said: “The response has been tremendous.

“We are welcoming so many locals and visitors to EBIKE Cafe on a regular basis.

“It is great to see familiar faces and see the place buzzing as a true community hub.”

Demand has been so high that they have grown from three employees to 21 since opening last November.

The majority of employees are young people looking to gain valuable work experience before embarking on university or college study.

Josephine said: “We have teenage children and understand the importance of providing a positive experience for those entering the world of work.

“Our ‘Hatchlings’ employment programme is specially designed to help young people to do just that.

“It has proved very popular and we feel very privileged to offer employment for local people.

“We take our responsibility seriously, with a huge dash of enthusiasm and enjoyment.”

One of the team, Sophie Hoff, said: “It is a happy place to work.

“We work hard, but we all have a lot of fun.”

The anniversary party saw over 70 people drop by to wish the business continued success.

It was also the perfect time to launch its 2022 charitable partnership with All Saints CE Academy in Wyke Regis, part of the Ambitions Academies Trust.

Josephine said: “We want to give back to the community and my children go to the school.

“Raising funds for equipment to help young people at the local school is the perfect starting point.

“For the next year, we will be donating 10p to the school for every cup of coffee we sell.”

Kim Newstead, Chair of the All Saints CE Academy PTA, said: “Sourcing funding for essential equipment is always a battle.

“When a local business steps up to assist, it makes all the difference to the learning experience our young people receive.

“The monies raised during 2022 will go towards outside gym equipment, to promote a healthier lifestyle, and theatre lighting for the school drama and production department.

“We are delighted EBIKE Cafe @deheers is supporting our school.”

• To mark its first year the business is holding a competition to guess the number of  ‘full circle’ coffees sold during the year. The winner will receive a meal for two, including a bottle of house wine, (T & C’s apply). To enter, pop into the cafe and leave your answer in the competition coffee sack. Entries close at 4pm on December 31 2021 and the entry closest to the answer will be announced in early January 2022.
• ebikecafe.co.uk