00:00So Ibra here at Evoke Coffee Shop, just tell me a little bit about the business, how long you've been working here, that kind of thing.
00:05So I've been working here for almost three years, it's an artisan coffee shop, we sell lots of different cakes, a range of different meals, and we try and cater for everyone, and we also sometimes put some specials on, it's a wonderful little cafe, we have lots of regulars that come in and they always speak highly of us,
00:28but it's such a wonderful place to work and even, it's just a lovely community for people to come into, it's wonderful, it's really homelight.
00:40For a Wednesday morning, a pretty chilly Wednesday morning, it's busy isn't it, so you've definitely got a loyal customer base here.
00:46Yeah, yeah, we always try and make sure we give the highest possible customer service, and make sure everyone's happy and comfortable, and that they don't feel scared to approach us, if they have any questions or anything, so we always try and make everyone happy.
01:04Brilliant, and you're from Penn yourself, weren't you as well, so just the general Penn area, what are your thoughts on this part of the world?
01:10I think it's quite nice, I think it's a lovely little local area, I mean, you've got a bit of everything, you know, you've got what you need, you've got your co-op, and you've got, you know, your little corner shops, and, yeah, then it's, then you've got your greggs and stuff, so, you know, for your mornings when you're on your way to work or something,
01:33you've got everything, you've got everything you need, and I think it's lovely, everyone kind of, and working here, you get to know a lot of people, so, you kind of feel like a family almost, but, yeah, I really like the area, I've lived here for, I'd say about coming up to 10 years now, so, yeah, because I used to live in Wombat, so, but I love Penn, I think it's a wonderful, wonderful area.
02:03Yeah, I really like it.
02:04Brilliant.
02:06So, Ian, you've just been inside Evoke here in Penn, and you're a Penn resident yourself, what are your thoughts on the local area, and, of course, the co-op?
02:11Yeah, good, I've lived here all my life, it's good, it's going down a bit at the moment, because, sort of, things like, you know, things going on, crime and stuff, but other than that, yeah, fine, your co-op is very good, we usually come here once a week, it's good.
02:27Brilliant, brilliant, and how long do you say you've been living here, then?
02:29I've been living here all my life.
02:30Right, okay, so, in that time, what's, sort of, what's changed?
02:33What's, you know, for better, for worse?
02:36Things were being done years ago, and now, things, you know, things, the standards seem to have dropped a bit, things aren't being done, crime's gone up, crime's gone up quite a lot, different things.
02:50Well, what sort of things are you hoping to change, then, what can be done to...
02:54Well, I live on Wallstones, Wallstones Green, and a few episodes happened on the Green, and we've mentioned it to local people, local councillors and stuff, and we wanted the grass to be cut, it's a simple thing like, you know, grass being cut round the trees, and it hasn't been done, it hasn't been done.
03:16Sure, but, hopefully, places like this, you know, bring a, bring a, bring a, bring a bit of, uh,
03:20Oh, yes, it's great, yes, it's great, yes, it's, they say, this part here, it seems to, you know, given the standard,
03:25it's up around at 400, things like that, you know, just little, little things like, you know, by regs, and people, you know, that are driving on the pavements, and stuff like that,
03:34and, it's only a matter of time before, somebody's injured, that's right, perfect, mate, that's everything we need.
03:43So, we're here in Lads and Lasses with Danny, store manager, how long you've been working here, mate?
03:47Over 10 years, yeah.
03:48Okay, perfect, because, I mean, personally, myself, when I think of Lads and Lasses is one of the things that come straight to mind, what's it like working in this area?
03:55Brilliant, yeah, it's a lovely area, I mean, we've been here over 20 years in the community, so, yeah, no, it's been brilliant ever since we've, you know, started up over 20 years ago, you know,
04:03the families have been lovely, parents have been great, met a lot of people in the community, a lot of the schools, a lot of the head teachers,
04:11we've seen a lot of different staff members come and go, but, no, it's a great area to work, so, yeah, brilliant.
04:15Good stuff, and are you local to the area, sort of, living-wise as well?
04:17I used to live down, just in Bradmore, so, I was, I grew up in Bradmore, went to local schools, went to Wallstones, went to Highfield, so, yeah, I've grown up here, I now live in Telford, but, yeah, I used to live in Bradmore, so, yeah.
04:30Brilliant, and, obviously, the Wallstones Road, I mean, it's quite busy, you know, a few businesses opening up and that kind of thing, it must be a good place to work.
04:38No, definitely, yeah, we've seen a few businesses come and go, but, yeah, it's starting to flourish again now, there's a few shops opening, and Vogue's great getting that here, and, yeah, it's always, you know, new shops opening, and it's a good little street to work on, there's a lot of business, a lot of footfall from the road, it's non-stop out there, but, no, it's a great, great road to work on,
04:59some great shops, great people down here, so, yeah, really good.
05:02Good stuff, and I imagine we've come at a decent time, because if we were here about a month ago, you would be, yeah.
05:05Wouldn't have been great, yeah, we'd bring queues out the door, and, yeah, I don't know if we'd have been able to have this conversation, but, yeah, it's going to be quiet now, so, we can breathe and have a bit of a relax after the, the hectic summer, but, no, it's good, you know, summer's always a busy period, but, no, it's a great time, keeps us going through the rest of the year as well, so, yeah, but, no, community's great here, community spirit's brilliant, so, and everyone just trips together.
05:26We've recently just done a charity event, actually, and, we had a lot of the local companies get involved, Avoco, I've just mentioned, got involved, just shows the spirit around here as well, everyone's happy to chip in and get involved and donate, so, yeah, raised over £3,000 for charity, and it's, yeah, it's been a really good event, and it just shows the spirit around here, it's brilliant, so, yeah.
05:45Brilliant, man, perfect.
05:46Perfect.
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