Sancta Bookshop Cafe
Business of the Week, Cafés, pubs & restaurants, Gifts & galleries
Coffee Station owner Mark Kawecki had dreamed of expanding his coffee shop offering ever since 2017, when he was living in Australia.
His regular Bondi Beach hangout was Gertrude & Alice – a hip coffee shop and bookstore – and it quickly became the inspiration for his own vision. Spending every afternoon there during his stay, Mark began collecting furniture and artefacts on his travels, preparing for the day he’d open a space of his own.
That opportunity came in early 2024 with the closure of M&Co in Orchard Gate. Mark saw his chance to grow beyond Coffee Station, and a major restoration project began. Working alongside his father, the pair built walls, laid floors, and added bookshelves and kitchen space to bring the new venture to life.
Entry to the new space – via an unmarked back door behind the bus station – has a speakeasy feel, like a hidden gem only a few know about. But the word is out, and the new-look café now offers a unique retreat unlike anywhere else in Otley.
Alongside the café and bookshop, there’s also a spacious studio tucked behind a 250-year-old antique Indian door. It holds up to 20 students and comes fully equipped with mats, bolsters, blocks and blankets for regular yoga sessions and special events.
- Listing ID: 4727