Pit Stop Coffee Shop at Pooley blends hospitality with heritage 

“The new owners have some excellent ideas about how to further the community offer through links with other local businesses, and I’m really excited at the prospect of several businesses potentially flourishing together." 

A warm welcome and a nod to the past are among the key ingredients of a new business coming to Pooley Country Park. 

The family-run Pit Stop Coffee Shop, set to open ahead of the summer holidays, pays homage to the rich mining history of the site through its name, with the venue set to further preserve a sense of community and heritage by proudly featuring donated mining artefacts. 

The warm welcome comes naturally to husband & wife team Sarah and Oliver Exall, who bring a decade of experience in hospitality from their existing rural coffee shop Bake180. 

Their business model pays heed to the café’s location and the context in which many of its patrons will have found themselves there. It is in a country park, so the owners are installing a hatch window, a unique feature which allows parents to keep an eye on children and dog owners to easily grab a coffee with an eye on the pooch. To further add to the family appeal of the venue, a small soft play zone for under-fives will be available upstairs. The new owners plan to partner with local businesses to offer stay-and-play sessions for babies and are also exploring the possibility of working with local forest schools to hold activities in the coffee shop’s outdoor space. 

The coffee shop will serve light breakfast items, an array of snacks, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and cream teas for those looking for that extra special treat. It will be a dog-friendly spot and will open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. 

The building is set for a thorough overhaul, including an expanded kitchen and re-decorated interior. 

Sarah Exall, Owner of Pit Stop Coffee Shop, said: “We’re hugely excited to be taking over this venue at Pooley Country Park, a beautiful site of great historical significance to locals and visitors alike. The next step for us is working our magic on the interior, and we plan to choose décor that blends with the stunning natural surroundings, creating an inviting space that brings the beauty of the outdoors inside. Once we’ve had the go-ahead to commence our works, we can’t wait to share our official opening date and invite everyone to our launch!” 

Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, commented: “It’s fantastic to see another business starting up at one of our country parks. This mutually beneficial arrangement is a brilliant way to draw additional visitors to our parks and boost revenue, while also enabling us to support a local business by providing a stunning setting from which to operate. 

“The new owners have some excellent ideas about how to further the community offer through links with other local businesses, and I’m really excited at the prospect of several businesses potentially flourishing together. 

 “In the meantime, everyone at Warwickshire County Council wishes the Pit Stop Coffee Shop the best of luck with their endeavour.” 

Plan your visit to Pooley Country Park at https://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/homepage/7/pooley-country-park. 

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