More than just a cafe at Little Battersea
In a part of Christchurch populated with heavy industry – there’s a little haven for those who enjoy all the finer things in life – including coffee and pastries.
Little Battersea cafe is more than just a place for a catch up with friends over a latte or lunch, there’s also a florist and a homewares store under the one roof.
“It’s kind of like a woman’s dream,” Little Battersea owner Amy Hislop said.
“Men can sit in the cafe, while women go perusing.”
The former warehouse space also hosts A Little Bit Floral florist owned by Charlotte Church, and Hislop’s other business, Addy & Lou, which has its flagship homewares store in Akaroa.
The cabinet food at Little Battersea is a list of the perfect food for lunch or snacks, including fresh sandwiches, Grizzly Baked Goods and Bellbird Bakery pastries, corn fritters, chicken wraps, pies, sausage rolls, muffins, New York cookies and scones.
“And there’s heaps of drinks options,” Hislop said, including hot drinks, Karma fizzies, Good Sh*t Soda, and sparkling waters.
Little Battersea is just one of two cafes in Christchurch serving Wellington’s Flight Coffee which she described as a “really nice smooth coffee you can have more than one of without feeling like you’re being electrocuted”.
The cafe was an afterthought, when it was noted the homewares store stocking everything from tableware and gifts to children’s clothes was “completely in the industrial area and not next to anything else”, she said.
A coffee machine was a necessity, she said, then they couldn’t have drinks without food – “and it turned into a full-blown cafe”.
Every month the space hosts a popup, including Posh Porridge, a clothing shop and a candle maker.
When Hislop isn’t at Battersea St, she’s at her second job as a radiographer – a common theme with all the Battersea staff.
“All of us have another job.” Church also did marketing alongside her flowers, “and all of my part-time staff are students I’ve stolen from the hospital”, she laughed.
“We’re just a bunch of girls hanging out in the shop really and we love it, it’s fun.”