Up Close: 4 You From Me

4 You From Me is a gift shop and café on Honiton High Street which is creating quite a buzz.

Located at the top of Honiton High Street, 4 You From Me consists of an attractive gift shop and a café area, with tables and chairs for customers to sit at.

Simon Green and trained pastry chef Alastair Peart opened 4 You From Me in April 2021, riding out the lockdowns by serving takeaway drinks. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength. 

When Nub News popped in, 4 You From Me was busy with shoppers and every table had happy customers sitting at them, enjoying fresh coffee and tasty snacks. 

Simon and Alastair can feel proud of the lovely business they've created - especially as it is their first ever shop. 

Simon said: "We wanted to create a relaxing space where people can have a look around, select what they like, then sit down with a book or chat to a friend and have a drink and a piece of cake. 

"We get a lot of regular customers and there is a real sense of community here - it is more than just a place to shop. Alastair and I know most people who come in here, so it really does not feel like work at all. We're very lucky.

"We have run restaurants in the past [they ran The Birdcage in Chagford for eight years] but before we opened here we hadn't run a shop before. It was all new to us, but we love it. It is a lot of fun and we really enjoy meeting people and chatting."

The café sells a tempting selection of homemade cakes (including carrot cake, chocolate cake, coffee and walnut and lemon polenta) as well as scones and Danish pastries. 

They also serve artisan rolls with fillings such as bacon, brie and cranberry, chicken bacon and avocado, Brixham crab and smoked salmon. 

A daily special is also served (such as Seafood Salad) and a Soup of the Day. 

4 You From Me sells everything you might need for any occasion you can think of - from a gift for a new baby, a special anniversary or a present for a friend who has moved house. 

Items to choose from include throws, pillows, photo frames, candles, paintings, aprons, children's soft toys, lamps and candlesticks. The items are displayed beautifully and it is a real pleasure to look around the attractive space.

Simon continued: "We try to cater for everyone and I think we sell a great range of gifts. We avoid selling things which are available in other Honiton shops, as we want to offer something different."

Popular ranges in the shop include the full Voyage Maison range, Designers Guild, Kew Garden soaps, Billybelts, Marmalade London and Thomas Kent clocks. 

They also sell a few locally made items such as pottery from Colyton and jewellery from Cornwall, which is made by Alastair's cousin. 

4 You from Me is located at 56 Honiton High Street and is open from 9am - 5pm. From 5 July it will also be open on Mondays from 10am - 4pm. 

All of the food - including ice-cream, soups and specials - are available from 9am (or 10am on a Monday.)

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