Olivers

25/08/2026

Something Brewing ❤️

We really have been lucky enough to have had the best neighbours next door. We honestly couldn't have asked for anyone better.

We miss John dearly, but we had the pleasure of knowing him for all of the time we've been open. He had the shop, Something Brewing, for over 50 years, and although sadly John is no longer with us, his wife and Marisa continue to carry on what he created. ❤️

If I needed a tool, John had it! 🔧
If my parasol broke, John could fix it! 😂

And then there were the clocks… ⏰

John had them everywhere around the shop. He could fix just about any clock, and we saw some amazing examples of this.

People would sometimes bring him a family heirloom clock that had stopped working. They'd already taken it to a specialist who had told them it couldn't be repaired.

John would find a way. ❤️

I think his least favourite time of year must have been when the clocks went forward or backwards! 😂 With all those clocks around the shop, he had a whole day's work changing them all.

And then there was St Anne's Club Day. 🎺🎉

When flags were no longer allowed on the lampposts, John came up with his own solution… he put them all around the shop! 🇬🇧

It was lovely to see this year that, even though John is sadly no longer with us, the flags still went up. A little reminder that his traditions and his spirit are still very much part of the street. ❤️

John also created a beautiful little outside area filled with plants, which he was so proud of and even won an award for. 🌿🌺

We're delighted to see Marisa keeping it going and looking after it just as John did.

John had a brilliant sense of humour, a real community spirit and was always willing to help. He was one of those people who became part of the fabric of the street, and his absence is definitely felt.

And actually, we think having Something Brewing next door is a pretty perfect pairing for Olivers. 🍷🍺

You can pop next door, brew your own wine or beer, then bring it along and enjoy it with your evening meal at Olivers.

Two small independent businesses, right next door to each other, supporting one another. ❤️

So here's to John, the memories he left behind, and the wonderful people who are keeping Something Brewing going. ❤️

Let's support each other and keep our little corner of the community thriving. 🧡

24/08/2026

🎉🏆 AND THE WINNER IS… 🏆🎉

Congratulations Vikki Armitage! 🎉❤️

You’ve won a meal for two at Olivers! 🍽️🥂

Bring a friend, choose your favourite meal and we’ll take care of the bill! 😋

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, commented and joined in the fun. We absolutely loved seeing all your answers! ❤️

Vicki, we’ll see you soon — and yes, the drinks are on you! 😂🍷

Congratulations! 🎉🥳

23/08/2026

Let’s start at the very beginning… ❤️

There are some people who come into your life through Olivers and, without you really realising it at the time, become part of your family.

For us, Alan and Hilda were two of those people.

They were one of our very first regular couples and came to Olivers every week. They had met later in life and were a fascinating couple, each with their own interests and passions.

Alan had an allotment and was forever bringing us things he had grown — blackberries, rhubarb, courgettes and basil.

Nothing went to waste.

I would turn the rhubarb and blackberries into sorbet, while Oliver would put the courgettes and basil to good use in the kitchen.

It was lovely knowing that something growing in Alan's allotment would end up on someone's plate at Olivers. ❤️

Hilda was a writer who wrote plays and poetry, so between the allotment and the writing, they certainly weren't your average couple!

They also became very much part of our little Olivers family.

When our children were young, they would sit with Alan and Hilda during Saturday lunch while they were in with us. They came every week, so over time it became completely natural.

And Alan didn't just come in for lunch either.

He would happily get stuck in and wash up during our Macmillan coffee mornings, helping wherever he could.

They were both in their 80s when they first started coming to Olivers, and incredibly, they both went on to live into their 90s.

Looking back now, it's hard to put into words just how special those years were.

They weren't simply customers.

They were part of our lives.

They watched our children grow, supported our little business and became people we could rely on. They gave us vegetables from the allotment, helped at our coffee mornings and, most importantly, gave us their friendship.

We miss them both dearly. ❤️

But we're incredibly thankful that Olivers brought Alan and Hilda into our lives.

Alan and Hilda will always be a very special part of our story. ❤️

And this is only the beginning…

There are so many other customers who have become part of the Olivers story over the years, so this is definitely to be continued… ❤️

21/08/2026

How Olivers began ❤️

When we opened Olivers, we had a very small budget and a lot of enthusiasm! 😂

We stripped all the woodchip off the walls ourselves, and our tables, chairs, fridges and equipment were mostly bought from eBay. As we slowly grew, we changed things and upgraded where we could, but we always wanted to keep that little bistro feel.

We're definitely not a posh, plush restaurant. 😂
We concentrate on the thing we care about most… the food.

And then there's the toilet… 😂

With just 7 tables, there simply isn't room for one inside! So if nature calls, there's a covered walkway to the toilet — although you will technically be outside for a little bit! 🤣

Originally, Olivers wasn't even meant to be a bistro. It was going to be a little café/takeaway.

Then our very first table changed everything.

They were colleagues of Oliver's brother and, halfway through their meal, asked if they could pop to the shop and get some wine to have with their food.

We thought… why not?

And that's pretty much how our BYO evenings began!

We never really advertised. Olivers just grew through word of mouth — and it got busy very quickly.

At the time, we had a young family living upstairs with no childcare during term time, so trying to run a growing bistro while bringing up a family was definitely hard work! There were no easy switches between work and home — they were literally upstairs and downstairs. 😂

My mam would come up from Wales and stay with us during the school holidays when the children were young, so she could look after them and they could have lots of fun with their Nan.

But somehow, we made it work.

And over the years, our customers have become so much more than customers.

We've watched families grow, made friendships, laughed together, shared stories and welcomed new regulars who have become very dear to us.

And that's probably the thing we value most about Olivers.

The relationships we've made along the way are priceless. ❤️

We're still small. We're still a little bit quirky. We're still concentrating on the food.

And after all these years, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Olivers story so far. ❤️

14/08/2026

13/08/2026

🔥 A little taste of Spain at Olivers 🇪🇸🥘

Before opening Olivers, Oliver lived and worked in Spain, where he was lucky enough to be taught how to cook paella by Anna, a flamenco gypsy and the mother of one of his friends.

Tonight we had two paellas on order — and with the weather being as hot as it is, it seemed only right to serve them outside! ☀️🥘

So tonight, a little bit of Spain came to Olivers… complete with sunshine! 🇪🇸❤️

Who needs a holiday when you can have paella at Olivers? 😆🥘

12/08/2026

🌑 THE SOLAR ECLIPSE HAS HAPPENED… THE END IS NIGH! 😂

Okay, probably not… but just imagine it is! 🌍💥

It’s your LAST DAY ON EARTH and you’ve got one final meal to choose from Olivers. 😱🍽️

So what’s it going to be?

🥩 Meatballs?
🥔 A fully loaded jacket?
🍝 Something seriously comforting?
🍰 Or are you going straight to dessert because, let's face it… calories are no longer your problem! 😂

👇 To enter, follow our page and tell us in the comments what your ultimate Olivers last meal would be!

🎉 ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL WIN THEIR FAVOURITE MEAL FROM OLIVERS! 🎉

📅 Entries close: 22nd August
🎉 Winner chosen at random on 24th August
🍽️ Prize meal must be redeemed by 30th November 2026

Choose wisely… this could be the most important food decision you ever make! 🤣❤️

This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Meta.