Young entrepreneurs take over Betws-y-Coed cafe

Dec 2 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Donna Jones and Ashley Williams

BETWS-Y-COED’S famous Buffet Coach cafe has had a new lease of life after a young couple took over its management.

The retro train station cafe, located in an stationary, disused buffet coach at Betws station, has always been a popular pull for tourists and locals alike, but after its previous manager left, the owners had a dilemma.

“I started working at the Buffet Coach Cafe just before the summer with my boyfriend Ashley,” explained 18-year-old Donna Jones from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

“We worked weekends and all through the summer holidays too.”

The teenage couple, who have been dating for over a year and are both studying catering at college, were amazed and delighted when they were offered the opportunity to manage the Buffet Coach.

“We’d obviously made a good impression with the owner when we worked there over the summer,” added Donna.

“But we were still taken aback by the suggestion of running the cafe. However, we are both studying catering and thought this is an ideal starting point for a career.”

Donna explained that with some financial backing from her dad, who is in the slate business in Blaenau Ffestiniog, they were able to take over running the cafe straight away.

“We gave the inside of the Buffet Coach a quick lick of paint to put our own stamp on the place and have simplified the menu slightly but are still incorporating as many local suppliers and ingredients as possible,” said Donna.

“Ashley will do the cooking and I will be front of house.”

She added: “Some people may question why we took over a tourist cafe out of season but we felt that with it not being as busy now, we have more time to perfect our menu and service and we plan to open the Buffet Coach every day to hungry customers.”

Donna is not daunted by the prospect of spending too much time with her boyfriend Ashley, also 18 and from Blaenau Ffestiniog.

She added: “Myself and Ashley have known each other for years, we went to school and college together and I couldn’t think of anyone else I would rather be working with.”

Ashley added: “The cafe is still quite busy and we’ve managed to create a warm and cosy atmosphere here.

“It’s the perfect time of year for us to take over as we can carry on with our studies one day a week too.”

samantha.castle