Coffee, cakes and book store combined at Clover’s Coffee Corner, Bo’ness

She has taken carefully-sourced delicious cakes and biscuits, artisan ground coffee from a Scottish roastery, added in a few good books for a great read to transform this former cupcake emporium into the coffee shop of her dreams, in the heart of Bo’ness.

And, after just a month in business, she already has customers coming back on a regular basis – proving her dream is shared by others who love great tasting coffee, delicious cakes – and maybe like to absorb themselves in a good book too.

Her tasty research led her to local bakers and specialist suppliers ensuring the coffee shop has a wide variety of sweet treats from very Scottish Empire biscuits, to Italian Cannoli. Here brownies, blondies and donuts sit alongside paradise slices and cookies and truffles made locally in Bo’ness.

With gluten free options for cakes nobody needs to miss out on a sweet treat and of course there is a wide selection of different teas as the perfect accompaniment. And if you prefer a soft drink there’s a selection of those from smaller producers such as Paisley Cans.

Quality coffee

But, for coffee-aficionado Chloe, the beans had to be the best so she turned to Three Hills roastery in Selkirk, choosing its Eldon blend, and learning the best way to make the greatest coffee with masterclasses with the producers.

“I think a lot of people come because of the coffee here. It’s artisan coffee with beans sourced from independent farmers,” explained the 25-year-old, who opened the café just over a month ago.

Chloe is a fan of iced coffee and that is something due to appear on the menu this summer.

Clover’s Coffee Corner is part of the Bo’ness Collective – a group of individual businesses and traders from reflexologists to mortgage advisers, gift shops and meditation classes – who all share premises at 52, South Street. Clover’s, as the name suggests, is on the corner facing out onto the street, its front window a tempting display of mouthwatering cakes.

Inside the cosy café has a fresh look with pastel walls, pretty china, decorated tea caddies and posters of places around the world, and plenty of space to sit and enjoy – whether you’re working at your laptop or chatting with friends.

As an avid reader Chloe always fancied combining her love of great coffee with books.

These are re-purposed good quality books, beautifully wrapped in brown paper with the Café’s sticker on, with a description of the type of book and a few clues to the contents – be it a thriller, a whodunit or a classic novel – and each one comes with a chocolate to enjoy as you read.

Route to success

Chloe says she left school with no qualifications. Severe bullying meant she missed out on a lot of her school years and after working in hospitality for several years she had the chance to join the Bo’ness collective, and study for a modern apprenticeship in Business Administration.

“I’ve been with the collective for about eight months,” she said. “I love it here.”

When the opportunity came to take over the former cupcake shop and turn it into a cake and coffee café she jumped at the chance and says she’s had huge support from her collective colleagues as well as customers. The apprenticeship is online so she fits in her studies around work and assessments take place on the premises.

She has just celebrated her third wedding anniversary and says support from her husband Filip, and her mum, has been invaluable.

But meeting new and regular customers and seeing them become friends is one of the highlights of her job.

“When you have so much passion in your work, you end up sharing that enthusiasm with your customers.”

And it’s already getting glowing reviews, with one Facebook review saying: “Lovely little shop! So nice inside! Popped in for some cakes, lovely cakes & lady was very pleasant & welcoming! Deffo be back, great addition to my home town!” Whilst another enthused: “Came here on the first day and wow! Love the colour scheme and had the best coffee in town! Coffee was not burnt and the milk was not overly hot either which is hard to come by! Definitely making this my regular.”

Visit the café

The café, at 52, South Street, Bo’ness, is open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm Sunday- 12pm-3pm. And follow Clover’s on Facebook here

*Offer closes June 29 and is limited to one per customer