23/05/2026
1996
It was Sunday 5am bank holiday weekend, Chris & Jamie prepared to enter from the kitchen in the house. A cup of tea, maybe toast. A nervous feeling, crackling through the Air.
Morning! Welcome! The Doors Are Open! Papers are here! Prep to do! Customers to serve!
2026
The Alarm sounds 5.30. The doors open to the aroma of cakes, bread, coffee and the feeling of happiness. Yet another bank holiday with the Francis Family & Team. We just love being part of our village...serving customers and dreaming...
Morning! Welcome! Coffee & Cakes are ready, doors are still open. You are all welcome...Pennard Stores, Three Cliffs Coffee and Much more. Still always open and creating treats for you to enjoy. Welcome all! 2026
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None of this would have happened, if not for Gaynor Francis. The mum of the family and probably the Godmother. The Boss, The Gaffer, The Queen.
It was Gaynor who spotted the potential. No boardroom strategy, no world domination, no corporate greed, just an old-fashioned business vision. A dream and faith in the talent of her team.
Gaynor, had spotted the business opportunity and ask Jamie & AC if they would join her on a mission to bring all year-round hospitality to Gower.
In those days Gower closed in mid-September and reopened in May. The Godmother had other ideas.
You have to remember there were no chains no coffee art no matcha. No one sold coffee machines in the UK. Thus, probably the first Welsh Coffee shop was born. Well not of Italian connection. In Swansea we were definitely the first none Italian Coffee Shop. From travel and experience of owning an Italian Restaurant in South Africa (another chapter in its self) the business was established. After all we are Jacks. YJB...not from the San Siro...
During the first 12 months we hang on, trying to keep the high standards of previous owners. The shop had a reputation; some called it the posh shop, some the fortnum & mason of Gower. We called it hard work.
Many bottles of red were enjoyed at eight most evenings, during the first year. As we tried to figure the whole operation. With secret weapons, like Mairwen our specialist cake maker - hidden in a room no bigger than large cake box.
Carrot cake, Victoria Sandwiches and Welsh cakes. These were the building blocks of what was to come. An obsession with ingredients and quality, the team just kept building. Always about the customer and no one was bigger than the business.
We have rebuilt and remodelled many times, as we write the new look to the outside is in progress.
What has made the journey special is You! The customer our friends. We also enjoy working with generation and generation of talent, that goes on and achieves so much in the world of hospitality and business. With out staff we can not entertain.
Today we employ around 65 people and support many organisations across Gower & Swansea. From cycling to walking, school workshops and environmental projects. The work is all part of being part of our community.
With the development of lady's football we are currently working on becoming Mumble Rangers Ladies First Team official sponsor. They have come a long way in a short time. Like ourselves it shows what hard work can achieve, when others around you doubted.
Tomorrow we will, brew great coffee, craft a few flat whites and bake from 7 till 5...6 waiters, 2chefs, 2 kitchen hands, 2 bakers and most importantly 2 dish washers. This we will repeat every day of the year, in a quest to live up to Gaynor's Dream...
With out Dreams we are not Humans, with dreams we can change the world....
Love Hugs & A Glass of Red.
The TCs team, Cliffs Edge, The Terminus, Southgate, Gower.
Hope you have enjoyed these 30 years
It's all about treats!
To celebrate our 30 years, on Sunday the 24th May the 30th coffee shop customer will be treated on the house...will it be you...
