Ashley Cross business winners announced

As you know, Total Guide to Poole loves to celebrate independent local businesses, so this month we focused on Ashley Cross and got you all voting for your favourites in our latest competition, sponsored by The English Garden Florist.

Turns out that Ashley Cross is a popular place but once the votes were in and counted, we had a clear winner - Little Red Roaster came out on top, with 60 of the votes.

If you haven’t had the pleasure, Little Red Roaster is a cosy, friendly little café on Station Rd overlooking the green. The family-run business opened in 2010 and when the original owners retired five years ago, their son Ben and his wife Celine took over.

Not only does the coffee house offer delicious food, including yummy cakes, quiche and sublime sourdough bagels but it also has a micro roastery. Coffee is taken very seriously at the Little Red Roaster with their own range of organic, freshly roasted single estate and single origin coffees, sourced from around the world available to enjoy in their buzzing café or to buy as beans or freshly ground.

In the evenings the space is used for a range of creative workshops and classes, including art with local Jo Wells and ukulele sessions.

Celine said: “It means so much to win this award and to know that our work is appreciated, particularly as we were voted for by our lovely, loyal customers. I put it down to having such a fantastic team.”

Second place in our competition was Adorned Tattoo Studio, clearly also a much-loved local business. Alex Hennerley, tattoo artist extraordinaire, who owns the business, said: “Here at Adorned, we feel like we are a tribe, and a family - and a part of what makes Ashley Cross feel unique.

“We would love to get past the stigma that sometimes follows outdated views and preconceptions of tattoo studios. We are a professional, clean studio and we have been producing original, creative work here for 12 years so it’s amazing to be recognised as a valued, thriving member of the local business community.”

And coming in third was Oxygen Beauty, owned by the inspirational Emma Jane Culpan-Scott. Emma describes her business in Church Road as “a little sanctuary of calm for people of all ages” offering luxurious treatments using only the best quality products. And if the five-star Google reviews are anything to go by, you will certainly leave her feeling pampered and replenished.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all those who voted.

www.littleredroaster.co.uk
www.adornedtattoo.com
www.oxygenbeautypoole.com
www.theenglishgardenflorist.org