Crepe Lovers Opens Second Island Restaurant In Newport

Monday, 3 March 2025 15:25

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

A business which has proven popular in Ryde has now opened a second restaurant in Newport.

Crepe Lovers, which has boasted a premises based at the top end of Ryde High Street since 2021, has now taken over the St James' Street premises formerly used by eco-friendly vegan eatery Peach.

Emanuel Ribeiro, founder and owner of Crepe Lovers, opened the new cafe officially on Saturday (March 1) with a live music event.

He also extended offers to regular Ryde customers as a thank you for their loyalty, which he says is the foundation of the business being able to expand.

The grand opening follows a refurbishment which cost around £30,000.

Emanuel told Isle of Wight Radio:

"I was originally a teacher, but this (Crepe Lovers) was always in my mind as a (longer-term) project.

"We noticed that traditional French crepes are something which you don't see very often - not only on the Island but across the UK.

"People often do not think of crepes as a savoury meal, but in France the sweet ones are generally eaten as a dessert rather than a meal on their own."

Crepe Lovers in Ryde (above) has proven a popular venue since opening in October 2021

Emanuel sees Crepe Lovers as a cross between a restaurant and coffee shop - an unusual and innovative setup for the Isle of Wight.

He continued:

"This isn't fast-food per se, it is something which can be done from fresh and where the customer can watch it being made in front of them.

"We also cater for diets such as vegan, vegetarian and gluten free - we are very careful about that."

The restaurant is very much a family affair, and that's clear from the welcoming, laid back atmosphere as you walk in - something also synonymous with the previous incumbents Peach.

It avoids becoming pretentious, but manages to provide a slice of Parisian life with an inviting ambiance and understated homage to the French capital.

"For the time being we are keeping this as a family business. It is not our objective to expand massively, but we would love people to know more about crepes," Emanuel concluded.

"We want this to be like a restaurant experience and to offer a range of things which don't really exist elsewhere in Newport.

"We have had a wonderful, loyal customer base in Ryde and hope we will experience the same here."

All food is cooked freshly, including breakfasts (one notable selection being 'brekky in a crepe') and there are various options on an extensive menu.

Emanuel also revealed plans to refurbish the Ryde store in the near future, and has been exploring those possibilities.

The new Crepe Lovers will be open from Monday to Saturday and between 830am and 5pm, with loyalty cards available and live events such as French evenings and jazz nights planned.

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