01/09/2026
Wow… I honestly don’t quite know where to begin.
Sunday was an extremely busy day and a post on another facebook account sparked some discussion which was brought to my attention later in the day.
I have to start with Jeremy. Jeremy, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I genuinely appreciate that you were thinking about Scruffythomas and suggesting ways that my service could potentially improve. I completely agree that 40 minutes is a long time to wait for a coffee, and I certainly don't want anyone to feel they have to spend that long in a queue.
What I would say is that this particular queue was something I have never experienced before on the park. It was an incredible day, and whilst it was a challenge, it’s just me doing everything I could to manage as one person, with one coffee machine, taking payments, managing orders, making drinks, managing alternative milks, cleaning as I go and most importantly trying to make sure every coffee and every interaction is the best it can be. I have no space for a second person.
I’m aware some people may see me chatting, but my brain and hands never really stop! 😊 I try to engage with the person/s I am serving because to me people aren't simply customers they are my guests. I want people to feel welcomed, remembered and valued.
The reality of running a small independent business is also that it can be very unpredictable. Just two days before, two of my hours was spent alone in the rain waiting to make just one cup of tea in the end! So when this extraordinary queue appeared it was quite a contrast and certainly a challenge I was trying my very best to accomplish.
What has genuinely overwhelmed me is reading all of your comments on the page, the text messages and calls I got. To everyone who waited patiently, to everyone who has supported me, defended me, encouraged me and said such incredibly kind things “thank you”. I can't tell you how much it means to hear that people feel I am worth waiting for. That is something I never take for granted and it has honestly been quite emotional to read/hear.
I do understand that not everyone has the time to wait and I completely respect that too. Everyone uses the park differently, and everyone has different needs but I think this conversation has highlighted something really special. Scruffythomas has become about so much more than just coffee. It's about the conversations, the dogs, the familiar faces, meeting new people, catching up, taking a moment and being part of the wonderful community that exists in Knighton Park.
Behind the scenes I have been looking into ways that I could invest further into the park and into Scruffythomas like creating a bigger working space, improving what I can offer, potentially employing people and helping make Scruffythomas even more of a destination for the community. I would love to build on the wonderful community spirit that the “Friends of Knighton Park” have helped to create and grow.
At the moment, the council has not supported my plans to explore investing my own time and money in this way, but I am continuing to work on it. Hopefully, with enough positive support and conversation, we may be able to explore what more could be possible for the park in the future.
So, once again Jeremy, thank you for expressing your thoughts and for suggesting an idea that you felt could improve my service. What followed has shown me something I honestly didn't realise quite so strongly was just how much this community values having Scruffythomas on the park.
To everyone who commented, supported me and waited patiently… thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️
I'll always keep trying to improve, but I promise one thing will never change and many of you have heard me say this: whether you are the first person of the day or the last person in a very long queue, I'll always do my best to make you feel welcome because to me you're not just a customer… you're my guest.
Many thanks, Scruffy x
