Cafe for Bikers and Hikers has a historical focus

Date published: 17 November 2009

When John Pounder was made redundant earlier this year, he could not have envisaged what would come next. Now he presides over the counter and hot stove of the newly opened 'Lizzie Lumbs Cafe' in Shawforth.

Based in what was the Post Office, the building is well used to having visitors, and opening a friendly cafe there has kept the visitors coming, even though the post office is long gone.

Together with his partner, Nicky Fairclough, John has great ideas about what is possible with the building and surrounding land. Situated firmly on the main valley road, but backing onto the River Spodden with wonderful views all round, John & Nicky are expecting the cafe to be a big attraction to hikers and  bikers who travel around on the surrounding moors. Even last week, they had over 25 cyclists, many with disabilities suddenly turn up for a cuppa!

And with the Adrenaline Gateway and more mountain biking tracks planned, just a short distance away over the hills, Lizzie Lumbs is ideally placed for thirsty cyclists and walkers!

And there is plenty room for expansion of the cafe area both internally and externally.

But that's not all. Nicky is an enthusiast for local history. Although brought up in Whitworth herself, her ancestors mostly lived in and around Shawforth, and her grandma- Lizzie Lumb- after whom the cafe is named -  almost certainly shopped in the building many years ago!

 Nicky is keen to use the  cafe as a 'living museum' with lots of information about local history and photographs. She is working closely with Whitworth Historical Society. She also wants the cafe to be a 'hotspot' for information and events locally.

John and Nicky know they are at the beginning of this particular adventure, and are keen not to run before they can walk. But they are enthusiastic about the future for this new 'watering hole' in the Rossendale valley.