New era for Pinewood cafe

One of Welshpool’s most established businesses is entering a new era under a familiar face.

The Pinewood Café & Home Bakery opens a new chapter in its long standing history when current manager Amanda Gittins, takes over as the new Proprietor this month.

Amanda has been a mainstay at the business for more than 30 years and is launching her tenure by asking the town: ‘what do you want from us?’.

“Customers are very welcome to come up with suggestions such as what items they might like to see featured on the menu so we have opened a suggestion book,” she said.

Last year, the Pinewood’s founder Mervyn Evans died more than 50 years after starting the business by buying No. 4 Broad Street back in 1961.

As a young entrepreneur, Mervyn developed the Pinewood Cafe into a modern coffeehouse and in 1963 he bought No. 3 Broad Street which he turned into a bakery shop. In 1967 he bought the pub next door which was known as the Boars Head but became the Pinewood Tavern.

During the 60's and 70's Mervyn and his brother Win ran the Broad Street business together. They also built up an outdoor catering business for functions such as Wedding Receptions, Balls and Parties. They sold the outdoor catering in the mid 70's to solely concentrate on the Pinewood. Win died in 2000.

Mervyn was the son of Evan Evans who was born in Welshpool in 1874 and managed a bakery shop in the premises now known as Alexander’s. Evan became a respected businessman and after the Second World War, Mervyn, who had served in the Army in Normandy, France and Belgium, joined the family business before branching out on his own.

Now Amanda is looking forward to taking the Pinewood into an exciting new era.

The business is celebrating by offering Local Loyalty Powys card holders 5% off all orders over £5. For more info about The Pinewood, see  http://www.localloyaltypowys.com/advertiser/29/Pinewood-Home-Bakery-.html