11 in Hill Street<\/a>, Wrexham. She focuses on using local suppliers and employing local people.<\/p>\nHer route to success has been underpinned\u00a0by the\u00a0joint-owners of the Fat Boar gastro pub\u00a0group, Mold,\u00a0who are\u00a0investors in both Lot 11 and Lot 11 Express –\u00a0Rich Watkin,\u00a0ex-Everton player Barry Horne and director of Hays Travel North West, Don Bircham.<\/p>\n
They own the cafe premises which Sarah leases from them.<\/p>\n
Last month\u2019s expansion involved taking over and converting the former shoe repairers, shop to\u00a0provide room for\u00a018 extra covers.\u00a0It has taken the total number of covers up to nearly 40 at maximum capacity.<\/p>\n
In addition, it has opened out the premises with large picture windows and popular bar style seating facing outwards to give customers an unrivalled view of the High Street.<\/p>\n
The Mayor said: \u201cI sometimes pop in for a coffee myself. It\u2019s a great place to sit and get a fascinating overview of people going about their business in the heart of town.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah is thrilled with the way it has taken off, and eventually hopes to develop the Mold venture further. She is considering\u00a0applying for an alcohol licence to host occasional evening events.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe great thing about Mold is that there\u2019s always something going on here. It\u2019s why we open every day including Sundays. The town council events diary is buzzing. Whether it\u2019s a music festival, the yearly food festival, a Christmas Santa Dash or the popular twice-weekly town centre market, people will come to Mold because they know it\u2019s a hive of activity and that helps our business no end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more people in town, the more customers we have and that\u2019s definitely been the case over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstruction of our extension only recently finished but its impact has already been felt. I\u2019d say business has increased by 30 per cent thanks to the extra table space and the bustling winter festivities programme in Mold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friends Ann Hardcastle of Nercwys, and Jackie Godfrey, of Llanferres, popped in for a coffee and snack on official opening day.<\/p>\n
Ann who was on her first visit to the cafe was impressed by its spacious interior.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely spot with a good menu and the food smells delicious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackie added: \u201cIt\u2019s got an amazing view of the high street and the staff are friendly and helpful which is always a plus point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah has been in the hospitality business since working part time as a waitress aged 14. She also worked in catering while travelling in Australia.<\/p>\n
The Lot 11 mini-chain is her first time running her own business but she has quickly earned a reputation for excellence.\u00a0Lot 11 Express was Highly Commended in the Best in\u00a0Wales\u00a0category of the Wales Cafe Awards 2019.\u00a0Its sister business was voted Best Cafe in Wrexham and a\u00a0year earlier Sarah was given the\u00a0honour\u00a0of\u00a0Rising Star in Tourism at the\u00a0This Is Wrexham Tourism Awards.\u00a0At the same event she secured an accolade for her commitment to using local produce.<\/p>\n
She also has a popular Instagram account\u00a0Eat North Wales<\/em> with nearly 1,500 followers of her local food reviews.<\/p>\nTo keep up with developments at Lot 11 express, go to Facebook @lot11express<\/p>\n
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