Middleton couple open cafe in arena

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Ian and Wendy Robinson

A well known couple from Middleton have opened a cafe in the Middleton Arena.

Ian and Wendy Robinson, both 46, were successful in the tender bid for a cafe in the arena and their new venture ‘ Fruits of Life’ was officially opened by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Alan Godson on Friday (5 August).

The couple, who have been married for almost 25 years, have lived in Middleton all their lives and are known for running Harbord Harbord, a JD Wetherspoons pub, in the town.

Mr Robinson has worked in leisure since 1983. He was a leisure attendee at the Gaskell Pool in Heywood and worked his way up to supervisor and manager. He then worked at the Middleton Sports Centre and Civic Hall from 1990 to 2000.

He then became the manager of the Harbord Harbord, alongside his wife.

He left in 2004 and Mrs Robinson, who has worked in catering all her life, became kitchen manager, a position she held until a few weeks ago.

Mr Robinson explained why they put in the bid, he said: “The expectations of the people of Middleton were that the arena should have a cafe, customers couldn’t believe that it didn’t, it started from there. Wendy put in the tender bid over 12 months ago and won.

“Potentially we have a ten year lease, it is our business, we have paid for it and we have invested in it.”

The cafe is based in the bar area of the arena and the couple have built a kitchen area and kitted out the space with new tables and chairs, they will also have a seating area outside the main cafe, close to the reception of the arena and on nice days there will be seating outside.

Mr Robinson said: “Wendy always wanted her own shop and this was a no brainer. Since we won it Link4Life have been a great support and I think they are just as excited as us.”

The couple have taken on three part time staff and one full time member of staff. Mrs Robinson will take care of the catering side of things and Mr Robinson will help manage the cafe when he isn’t working in his full time job.

Mr Robinson said he sees the cafe as a “new challenge.”

Mrs Robinson said it felt like the “right time” to go for the cafe.