Roots Cafe in Barnstaple, known for its vegetarian fare and rescue dog Otis, will close on February 25th.
Roots Cafe is also home to Otis, a rescue dog rehomed three years ago. Otis became a “therapy” dog, and some older customers particularly enjoy his company.
Lila, with a marketing background, started Roots with her daughters at the Gammon Walk location. She wanted to offer tasty, healthy, meat-free food, emphasizing that you don’t need to be veggie to enjoy it.
Lila announced the closure on Facebook, describing it as a very hard decision. She had put a lot into Roots and loved serving tasty meat-free food.
Initially, Lila ran the cafe alone. The business grew during the lockdowns, with long queues forming for food. People wanted wraps and salads fast. Roots adapted by introducing an evening menu and using Just Eat during lockdown number two.
However, the small kitchen with a spiral staircase became impractical for her. Consequently, she found a larger place on Boutport Street and moved Roots there.
Lila later opened a second cafe in Braunton, but it struggled in the winter months and closed in early 2023.
The Barnstaple location also faced issues. Lila told the Gazette that the lunch market disappeared partly due to location. Additionally, more people working from home and the recession also affected the cafe.
Despite the closure, Lila remains passionate about plant-based food. She plans to cook at retreats in the future and wants to educate children about tasty meat-free options.