Gosport baker spills the beans on opening new cafe during lockdown

Ollie Shilling has opened The Rolling Scones – a play on words from rock band The Rolling Stones – in Rowner Road, and is already seeing success.

The cafe was previously the home of Rosie’s Kitchen, which was a popular spot for residents in the town.

For Ollie, this is her first cafe venture having previously run a bakery from her home.

The 56-year-old said: ‘We took over the cafe on April 1, so right in the middle of lockdown.

‘In that time, we gutted and redecorated the whole place – before opening for the first time on July 4.

‘A few years ago I ran a bakery from my kitchen. That went on for three years and it got to a point where it overtook our whole home.’

With six staff members, The Rolling Scones is also available on JustEat, with people able to get food delivered to their doors.

Since opening, Ollie has seen a steady stream of customers coming through her doors, keen to try some of her beloved cakes.

‘Weekends have been really good for us, although it is a bit quieter during the week,’ she said.

‘But people aren’t going out as much at the moment, so to an extent that is to be expected.

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‘Our cakes have become quite famous since we started the bakery business, so we’re particularly proud of our afternoon tea service.

‘For us, it’s all about getting people back into homecooked food, rather than eating greasy takeaways. We’d love for people to just give it a try – I promise they’ll like what we are offering.’

The Rolling Stones is one of a select few businesses that have actually opened for the first time during the coronavirus lockdown.

On the same date that the Gosport cafe opened, a new bar called Sherlock’s opened in Clarendon Road, Southsea.

Ollie said: ‘It’s been a unique and slightly crazy experience.

‘I never thought we would open up a business in the middle of a global pandemic, but here we are.’

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