H&H@Koo: Chesterfield's new dog-friendly licensed independent café on Chatsworth Road

Not only is the café ready to welcome customers old and new, but it is also looking forward to meeting your four-legged friends too, and they’ll definitely get the VIP (Very Important Pooch) treatment, with a complimentary water and dog biscuit on request.

New owner John Makin is a doting dog-owner himself, even renaming the original coffee house Koo after his Lhasa Apso and Snoodle – Honey and Heidi – to turn the original Koo café into the new-look H&H@Koo

Café by day; Wine bar by night

As well as the rebrand there is a brand new menu – more artisanal breakfasts and sandwiches, locally-made cakes and produce, gluten-free and vegan options plus an alcohol licence. But John has lots more exciting plans for the venue in the near future too.

Whilst it’s currently open daily from 8am to 4pm, he plans to open of Fridays and Saturday evenings serving light bites, sharing platters, grazing boards and a carefully curated selection of wines and spirits. You can expect special brunch menu options and some exceptional cuvees – what better way to catch up with friends than over a lazy lunch and a couple of glasses of something special?

With 35 covers and an outside seating area, under a canopy, there’s also plenty of scope to cater for private functions and events too – from a baby shower to a birthday brunch this could be the perfect place to celebrate.

Bringing the community together

John’s passionate about the area – he lives just a few miles away – and wanted to create somewhere people would use as a focal point for meeting friends, as well as providing employment locally and supporting local suppliers and artisans.

Food miles are kept to a minimum when bringing the breakfast or brunch to your table. Adam’s Happy Hens supply the eggs, and the exceptional range of homemade cakes come locally from Happy Friday Treats commercial kitchen. Even the dog treats are from local firm Marge and Mabels

As a former manager of Patisserie Valerie, John is something of an expert on cakes and pastries – and the selection on offer here will make anyone’s mouth water! After all, if you’re going to have a treat, it may as well be a good one – and a generous slice!

“The cakes are a real feature,” says John. “Once people have tasted them they come back for them time and time again.”

Exceptional coffee

A self-confessed coffee-snob, John is committed to bringing the best beans in the business to H&H Koo. Arden Coffee, at nearby Clay Cross, is providing the coffee to be made just how you like it – whether you’re a double espresso sipper or love to linger over a latte. There’s a choice of machas and chais too and of course, you can grab a cuppa, a coffee and a bite to eat to take away as well as dining in.

Service with a smile

As well as keeping Koo in the name John has kept all the original staff. John has spent a lifetime in hospitality, he also manages the Sitwell Arms in Renishaw and runs his own self-catering cleaning and laundry business, so has appointed Cheryl (who many may know from her time running the Tap House) as manager to run the café.

“The level of service is extremely important,” says John. “We want every single person to be made to feel welcome. They’ll get a friendly greeting, the tables are set out nicely with water already there and it’s waitress service too.”

Product knowledge and quality is vital, says John. Not only has he carefully sourced his suppliers from tried and trusted local businesses, but he is also upskilling the staff too – for example Arden Coffee recently ran a barista course at the café to ensure your coffee is brewed to perfection.

Make a date for H&H Koo – and bring the dog!

You’ll find the café at 475a Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S403AD

Tel: 01246 205604

Check out the website for more details and to see the menu and follow on Facebook so you don’t miss the next exciting development at your friendly, independent community café.