Cafe going ahead despite major setback

Flooding has washed away progress that was being made at a new cafe and community hub which is being launched by two strangers who bonded over a shared dream.

Olivia Naylor and Lilia Bitouche, both from Portchester, have said they are “hopeful” their business - Papaya - will be open by the end of the year despite flooding putting a damper on the experience.

Two strangers, who have bonded over a shared vision for Portchester, are opening a play cafe which will also offer community events, fitness classes and more.

Pictured: Olivia Naylor and Lilia Bitouche — Two strangers, who have bonded over a shared vision for Portchester, are opening a play cafe which will also offer community events, fitness classes and more. Pictured: Olivia Naylor and Lilia Bitouche | Contributed

placeholder image — Two strangers, who have bonded over a shared vision for Portchester, are opening a play cafe which will also offer community events, fitness classes and more. Pictured: Olivia Naylor and Lilia Bitouche | Contributed

The water damage which has affected the ground floor retail space is a result of the roof not being properly protected while work commences to create a six-bedroom HMO on the first floor after plans were approved earlier this year. Consequently, they have had to push back provisional opening dates, with painting and decorating still to be complete.

The friends, who were put in touch by Fareham MP Suella Braverman at the end of last year after both sharing their vision with her, said the setback has been “really disheartening”.

Olivia said: “We have had builders in there for the last few months and progress has been really slow but it will still progressing. The roof wasn’t properly protected when they started work and when we had the first downpour, water was coming through the ceiling so they re-did the ceiling in the cafe and studio but the roof still wasn’t sorted so now we’ve had more rain and it has happened again.

“I went in there and it is flooded so now my partner is going to do the roof with his company, Rushton Roofing, so that should be done in a week but it has pushed everything back.”

The new cafe and hub, which is located in the former Lloyds bank, in West Street, will also house a yoga studio, a dance academy, a meditation class and community events throughout the week. The cafe will feature a small role-play area for young children, with Olivia saying it will mimic a “mini town” where kids can dress up. The play zone will give also parents and carers the opportunity to relax with a hot drink while their child plays.

Olivia added: “We want to say thank you for how much the community has supported us and how grateful we are for our friends and family.

The former Lloyds bank in West Street, Portchester, will become a new play cafe. | Contributed

“This is a bend in the road and we want people to know that starting a business isn’t always straight forward. I feel like being a resident of Portchester and trying to start a business in a small town - it is nice to know we can go for it and have the support - but we want people to see the reality as well.”

Lilia said: “I would describe the whole thing as a rollercoaster at the moment but we are creating a community space and it will be worth it in the end. And, in some way, it has meant we can make sure that everything else is perfect but we are ready. It is still happening and we want people to be excited.”

Despite the flooding, the entrepreneurs have said they want to be open by the end of this year and have already held interviews in order to prevent further delays.