Southampton: Mobile coffee bar opens in Ocean Village

Kerry Crofton, 49, decided to take the leap and launch her own coffee business after being made redundant last year.

The Maybush resident, who worked for Bacardi, bought and renovated an old trailer to sell coffee from.

After five months of hard work, Crofty’s Coffee was born – and arrived in Ocean Village last week.

Kerry Crofton with her son Jack Mongan inside the Crofty's Coffee trailer in Ocean Village (Image: Newsquest)

Kerry said: “After I was made redundant, I thought ‘what do I do with my life?’

“This has always been a dream of mine, and if other people can do it, why can’t I?

“I looked all around for the perfect trailer, and I found one in the garden opposite mine.

“I thought something was missing from Ocean Village, there’s no place for a quick coffee here.

“The centre manager of Enterprise House said he would love to have me outside the building, so that’s where we are.”

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Described as a ‘family affair’, Crofty’s Coffee specialises in homemade sweet treats, meal deals, and of course, ‘delicious’ coffee from Winchester Coffee Roasters.

Since opening the coffee bar on May 15, Kerry and her 21-year-old son Jack Mongan have been inundated with customers.

She said: “Since we started, lots of people have said the same thing – something like this is needed in Ocean Village.

“We’ve had office workers, people living here, and visiting come to us. Gradually, everyone is finding Crofty’s.

“The response has been amazing and everyone is really supportive. The feedback has been fantastic.

“My son Jack and I did barista training together for this.

“I’m working with my family and can’t ask for anything better, until our first argument of course.”

Crofty's Coffee outside Enterprise House (Image: Newsquest)

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With Kerry’s extensive experience in the alcohol industry, she has big plans to branch out.

She said: “I want to get as busy as we can here, as it’s a great location.

“I will hopefully do weddings and other events in the future too, offering Crofty’s Cocktails.

“But I want to find my feet first.

“The first week has blown my mind, I couldn’t have expected it to have gone better. I’ve never been happier.”

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Rich Bond, former centre manager of Enterprise House, said Crofty’s Coffee is extremely popular amongst those in the office building.

Kerry, Jack, and Rich Bond outside Crofty's Coffee (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “It’s amazing.

“Kerry has only been outside a week and all our clients here are really pleased by her arrival.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and it means we’re supporting a local business.

“The landlord of the building said it was ‘the best decision that has ever been made.’”

Crofty's Coffee is open from 8am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday.