A new café bar is set to open at The Trentham Estate this summer, set up with fitness fanatics in mind.
Pau Run and Ride, a specialist store within the estate’s shopping village, has taken over an empty unit next door and will turn it into a venture serving a range of healthy options.
A lease on the unit was signed this week and it is expected to open towards the end of August.
A manager has already been appointed and around five other jobs are due to be created.
Owner and Managing Director Paul Ball said: “Health has become high on everyone’s agenda since the Covid pandemic and people are more concerned about what they are eating.
“Pau Café will offer something different to other venues at Trentham, giving people healthy options to support active lifestyles.”
Paul’s shop, which has been based at Trentham for four years, sells clothing and equipment for runners and cyclists.
It also hosts speakers and representatives from suppliers who put on events such as private 5K runs in the gardens to allow customers to try new trainers.
Such events will be transferred over to the café bar once it is open.
The unit, which used to be a wedding photography outlet until it shut earlier this year, is undergoing some renovation work which will include knocking through the wall to PAU Run and Ride.
Paul also hopes to draw on his experience of running a pub and is looking to recreate the successful comedy and live music nights he hosted during a stint of being in charge at The Boughey Arms in Audley.
And as the event director of Trentham’s increasingly popular parkrun – a free community 5K event held in the gardens each Saturday morning – he also plans to bring the volunteers back to the café for their post-run results processing.
Paul, who also used to run the high-ropes course at the other end of The Trentham Estate under the Peak Pursuits name, added: “There is such a great atmosphere at Trentham on a Saturday morning since Parkrun arrived.
“It has been named within the top 10 parkruns in the country in recent weeks for popularity and we expect to hit 1,000 runners at some point.
“The combination of a café bar and the shop will provide the perfect place for people to enjoy after their run.”
Pau Café, which has space for up to 40 covers, will be open during the day and then for pre-bookings and special events in the evenings.
The Trentham Estate has seen a number of new arrivals in recent months including a milk vending machine, clothing shop and Greek bakery-come-taverna.
I hope there will be a good selection of gluten free options and not just cakes. Coeliac is not a choice it is a terrible medical condition, but no eateries cater and therefore it is impossible to have a meal away from home. Hope you can help Coeliacs as this condition is expanding exponentially. We look forward to your reply. Thanks.
Maybe give them a chance to even be ready to open the doors first eh?