Abby Roberts has a long-standing career in the food and beverage world, with stints across catering, hotels, takeaway outlets, and national chains.
She also had a long-standing dream: to open her own coffee shop. That chance arrived in summer 2025 when Otley’s oldest café, Cafe 21 tucked away in a little courtyard on the corner of New Market and Mercury Row, came up for grabs.
Abby didn’t hesitate—she took the lease, splashed on “a few coats of paint” (read: full refurb), and brought long-time colleague Natalie Cooper along for the ride.
The revitalised, refurbished, and historic café reopened to the public in October 2025, serving a range of traditional cooked breakfasts and lunches—no fuss, lots of heart. If you’re after good, honest food, it’s a solid shout—and they open nice and early, so you can get a proper breakfast at a proper time.
- Listing ID: 5106