Inside Sunderland's new cafe that's brought a pretty in pink offering to local high street
“I wanted to create somewhere cosy, homely, a place where people can just relax,” says the owner of the city’s newest cafe which has transformed a well-known SR6 spot.
After previously working in hospitality for others, Lyndsey Tye has fulfilled her dreams of opening her own venture with The Pink Rose Cafe.
It’s seen a major pretty-in-pink makeover of the former Rosemary’s Cafe, which ran for decades on Sea Road in Fulwell.
Lyndsey, who has gone into partnership with her dad Philip Tye, has put her stamp on the unit, which sits on the corner of Annie Street, with a floral theme and an equally colourful menu of cakes, breakfasts, waffles, an array of matchas and more.
Even the name is inspired by one of the businesswoman’s favourite songs, The Red Rose Cafe by Irish folk band The Fureys, and her favourite colour of pink.
Pink Rose Cafe has only been open since Easter Monday, but Lyndsey says the team has already had a warm welcome.
“Everybody has been absolutely amazing,” she said. “We’ve had so many well wishes and cards. One lady has followed us on Facebook and saw all our progress on the site and sent us a card when we opened, which is lovely.
“I feel so proud of the team, we’ve all really tried our best, especially Lisa Morrow who makes all our cakes in house, and Lauren Branton. And my dad, I couldn’t have pulled it off without them by my side.
“Me and the girls have all worked in cafes together before and all get on really well,” said Lyndsey. “I really wanted my own place and somewhere we could all work together again.
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“I knew I wanted it to be in the SR6 area, I grew up here, so that was always the dream.”
The cafe offers breakfasts and lunches including full English, breakfast buns, loaded crumpets, pancakes, jacket potatoes, panini, toastie, quiche, curries and more.
A signature is their Pink Rose Breakfast, a full English including a drink for £10. Kids meals, meanwhile, are priced £5.50 including a drink.
Drinks-wise, as well as range of teas and coffees, the cafe also offers colourful matcha options, ube latte (a purple beverage made from Filipino purple yam) and more.
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Drinks prices start at £2.50 for an espresso.
The also cafe has its own library corner where people can sit and read and there’s plans to do events at the space once the new business has become established.
Pink Rose Cafe has created six new jobs and they’re recruiting for another kitchen staff member. Anyone interested can contact them via Facebook.
It’s one in a number of recent additions to Sea Road, including Valelly’s, which opened in the former Lloyds Bank in December, and Boca Chica which opened earlier this year.
*Pink Rose Cafe, Sea Road, is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Breakfast is served until 11.30am and the kitchen closes at 4.30pm.