Stylish new cafe/bar to open in Twyford

An interior designer turned café-owner is opening a new establishment on Twyford’s High Street this month.

The Orangery Twyford, a café by day and a bar by night, is a joint venture between husband and wife team Victoria and Martyn Willson-Copland.

On the menu will be French breakfast pastries, bagels and baguettes for lunch, afternoon teas plus ‘glamorous’ charcuterie, cheese and chocolate sharing boards in the evenings.

“There will be a big range of things but it’s all kind of what I call ‘happy food’,” said Victoria.

Taking inspiration from the style of Art Nouveau, The Orangery will be styled with richly-pattered wallpaper, warm tones and plants.

“The name came from our love of plants so there will definitely be a lot of plants in there” she added.

Opening a café near to where they live and bringing something a bit different to Twyford was a long-term plan of the Willson-Coplands, especially after Victoria moved her interior design business across the High Street, leaving the unit empty.

“Me and my husband have always wanted to do something like this,” she said.

“I rent the building anyway as an interior designer and because I was always on site I seemed to be sat there with the lights off most of the time which seemed a bit of a waste on the High Street.

“So we said to each other that this could be a really good opportunity – to do what we’ve always wanted to do.”

Work on the interiors was largely done by Victoria and Martyn themselves and experienced staff have been brought in to run things.

“Everything – decorating, tiling, making the benches, it’s all been us and we’ve employed barista and bar staff so we’ve made sure we’ve got the right people for the job,” said Victoria.

“We want to open on a high and not be like your average café. We want it be a really nice place where everything is a high standard, high quality.

“There are a couple of other nice cafes in Twyford. We’re different in that we look different inside. It feels really nice and it gives you a hug when you walk in.”

In the lead-up to opening day Victoria has been engaging with the local community on social media, asking for their favourite menu items and there’s careful attention to ensure everyone is catered for.

“We’re going to offer vegan and gluten-free food and some other stuff that people have mentioned that they would like. There will be something for everyone,” said Victoria.

The Orangery is due to open on September 15 and will be open seven days a week for café dining and four nights a week as a bar.