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1950s American-style cafe and bakery opens in Knowle
Sixteen months ago, Nikki Jaine set up a couple of tables to sell baked goods from in the Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle. Now she’s just opened her own 1950s American-style cafe and bakery in the shopping centre – and says it’s the only one like it in Bristol.
“I just had this dream and I’ve always wanted a shop,” says Nikki. “I was brought up with 50s music, so I love rock and roll, Grease, that sort of thing – it’s in my blood.”
Her new business – Nikki Jaine’s Light Bites – is a blast from the past. A jukebox plays hits from the 1950s, and on the wall there’s a picture of a classic Cadillac car with a license plate that says ‘NIKKI J’.
is needed now More than ever
The cafe pays homage to 1950s America. Photo by Charlie Watts
“We took the shop over at the end of November, and we spent a couple of weeks doing it up because it was just an empty shell,” says Nikki.
“We started with two tables, then we went on a stand, and from the stand we moved into the shop,” she says. “So in 16 months, we’ve done really well.”
The cafe is full of nods to the 1950s including an Audrey Hepburn cutout, a retro telephone and old glass bottles. There’s also a jar of gumballs and a popcorn machine.
The cafe has a 1950s red and white colour scheme. Photo by Charlie Watts
“We’ve had a lot of people come in already, saying it looks absolutely stunning,” says Nikki.
At the moment, the coronavirus restrictions mean the cafe can only do takeaways and deliveries, so Nikki is looking forward to when things change.
“Once people get to know us and we go down a tier, I think that will help,” she says. “That’s when the action’s really going to start kicking off because it will just look better with people sat in here.”
On the wall is a quote from Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn. Photo by Charlie Watts
The cafe has a selection of sweet and savoury snacks, with sandwiches and baguettes as well as cakes and breads all on the menu. It also sells milkshakes and even ‘cake shakes’ – a blend of cake and ice cream.
Nikki, who’s originally from Plymouth, moved to Bristol when she was 14 and now lives in Knowle.
Before doing what she does now, she was a forensic embalmer, which she gave up after breaking her back: “It just put me off doing it so I thought ‘well, what else could I do?’”
She started making bespoke cakes – which can also be bought from the cafe. “I just built everything up myself,” she says. “I’ve not gone to college to learn cake decorating; I’ve learnt all that from YouTube.”
People cannot currently eat in the cafe due to Bristol being in tier 3. Photo by Charlie Watts
Nikki was able to start Light Bites thanks to some money left to her by her parents.
“They were the only ones who believed in me,” she says. “When I started making cakes, my mum went ‘you need a shop, my girl. You’re so talented.’
“They loved rock and roll. My mum was an Elvis fan; my dad was a Buddy Holly fan.
“I am kind of hoping that they’re looking down and are proud.”
The cafe is part of the Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle. Photo by Charlie Watts
Nikki Jaine’s Light Bites, Broadwalk Shopping Centre, Knowle, BS4 2QU
0117 958 8554
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo by Charlie Watts
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