Friends of 35 years join forces to charm town with coffee and cakes

Afoodie who has been highlighting her talents on social media has teamed up with a friend to bring their coffee and cake to the masses.

Lesley Forsyth, @lforsythfoodie on Instagram, and Donna Grove-White, Wee Roamer, have joined forces to bring their products to the people of Montrose.

Lesley’s bakes sold out in only 50 minutes on one of the first days they were available at Donna’s coffee-selling horsebox near the Flower Pavilion.

The duo have been friends for 35 years.

Donna opened her business during the pandemic last year, and it has proved to be a winner.

She revealed: “I have two mobile units, one of which is a horsebox called the Muckle Roamer that I have situated down at the old Inch Bowling Club where a friend has the flower shop there called the Flower Pavilion positioned right outside the shop there next to the green.

“I started there in August last year and the whole concept of the business came about probably just before lockdown last March. I started off with a wee teardrop caravan and called the business Roamer Coffee Company.

“The wee teardrop caravan was then renamed the Wee Roamer and I started down at the Flower Pavilion. That was when the whole concept of the business came from and where I really wanted to be situated.”

The caravan was based at the bowling club until winter set in, but such is the popularity of Roamer that Donna had to look at a way of providing something more permanent.

She said: “The original one, the wee teardrop caravan, moves around. It was down at the Flower Pavilion from August and I would take it back and forward every day.”

“Once winter started to set in I didn’t know how busy it was going to be, but people really wanted us to stay and I think we became a little bit of a lifeline for people, certainly the locals as it was an incentive for them to get out for a walk and have a wee treat with a coffee and a cake.

“They were keen that I stayed over winter and that was when I got the horsebox which I keep there permanently, and that means when I’m not down there I can go out with the Wee Roamer.”

Teaming up with her friend is going down a storm with coffee and cake lovers in Montrose.

“We had a couple of days selling Lesley’s produce at the horsebox, and people knew about it as she is so well known and popular. On Sunday we were sold out in 50 minutes,” said Donna.

“The whole premise of my business is good local produce,” she added.

Starting a business during the coronavirus pandemic might have looked crazy to some, but being an outdoor enterprise has seen Roamer Coffee just go from strength to strength.

“The Flower Pavilion is a wee oasis, it’s a wee community hub,” Donna said.

Lesley said: “I have been a keen cook and baker for a long time and I have a bit more time on my hands these days.”

Lesley plans to cater for whatever suits the coffee drinker’s palate when supplying her friend with cakes and bakes.

But before you can embark on such an enterprise it is vital that the paperwork is all in place, and Lesley, who has been married to Arthur for 32 years, has been working hard to ensure she adheres to the various regulations.

“Everything is in place now and it’s really exciting to get started,” she said.

A glance at Lesley’s Instagram page is a joy for anyone who loves sweet – and savoury – treats.

ALL SMILES: Lesley Forsyth and Donna Grove-White with some of their produce. Picture by Mhairi Edwards.