Popular Bristol cafe to close after six years

The husband-and-wife owners of a popular Bristol cafe have announced plans to close after six years.

John and Kate Cassettar, who opened The Toast Room in Bedminster in July 2017, say they have taken the decision to close mainly due to increased costs.

"All our costs have gone up monumentally since we started," said Kate, speaking from the cafe in Bedminster Parade.

"The business model does not work anymore, we would have to drastically change it to make it viable.

"The nail in the coffin is we had to renew our energy contract, which went from £4,000 annually to over £10,000."

The couple, who also have a two-year-old daughter, have therefore decided to not renew their lease.

"We're at a time in our lives when the cafe is not our only focus," added Kate, 37.

"We've started a family since we opened and that has shifted our priorities."

The couple are also looking for a new home, with John, 44, adding he is "gutted" to be closing the cafe down.

"We've steered it through Covid, the cost-of-living, energy crisis - it's taken a lot out of me," he said.

"The state of the country aside, we could do with a bit of a rest.

"Hopefully we can open something in the future but not at the moment with the climate and energy bills."

Following the closure, Kate plans to move out of hospitality and find work that is more child-friendly, with John also exploring his options.

The Toast Room is expected to close in around a couple of months' time, with March 23 given as a potential closing date.