Dumfries and Galloway café boosts footfall with sustainable investment supported by Business Gateway
A rural café and deli in Dumfries and Galloway has strengthened its offering to locals and tourists alike thanks to support from Business Gateway, enabling the business to invest in sustainable infrastructure and continue its growth.
OakHill Café & Deli, owned by partners Eshan Owarish and Suzy Johnson, opened in early February 2022 and is located on the A75 on the grounds of Carsluith Castle, a key route connecting England with Northern Ireland, western Scotland and beyond. An artisan hospitality business, the café is known for freshly prepared food, welcoming customer service and a carefully curated deli showcasing high quality local produce.
Food lovers with a shared passion for great hospitality, Suzy and Eshan brought together complementary skills to create OakHill Café & Deli. Suzy draws on years of hands-on experience managing a successful pub, restaurant and hotel, while Eshan combines a background in IT transformation with long-standing experience supporting hospitality businesses.
Keen to channel their skills into their own venture, the couple set out to create their version of an artisan café and deli experience. After searching extensively across the country, a visit to Carsluith Castle proved to be the turning point, and they knew instantly they had found the perfect place to begin their journey, relocating to Dumfries and Galloway in 2022.
OakHill serves breakfasts, lunches, snacks, cakes and treats alongside hot and cold drinks, with a deli offering locally produced meats, cheeses, antipasti, pasta sauces, condiments, shortbread and tablet. The café prides itself on being food inclusive, with an extensive Free From and plant-based offering, ensuring all visitors have genuine choice on the menu. Dogs are welcomed inside and out, making OakHill a popular stop for both travellers and locals.
Looking to increase footfall, Eshan identified an opportunity to support the growing number of electric vehicle drivers using the A75. Visitors regularly stopped to ask where they could charge their vehicles, with many highlighting the lack of convenient charging options directly on the route. Although chargers were available in nearby towns and villages, they often required drivers to divert, adding time and inconvenience to their journeys.
With support from Business Gateway, OakHill Café & Deli was signposted to routes to funding through the Climate Resilience Programme, which led to securing a £3,000 EV Charger Grant. The installation allows visitors to charge their vehicles while enjoying food and drink and has resulted in increased footfall and sales, establishing OakHill as a trusted stop for EV drivers travelling along the A75.
Business Gateway has supported Eshan and his partner Suzy from the early stages of the business, providing dedicated one-to-one adviser support alongside advice on business planning, funding routes, HR, pricing and environmental health. Access to online tools, planning resources and events has also helped shape the growth of the café.
The business has recently completed a major refurbishment, upgrading systems, refreshing the décor, installing a new front counter and investing in a specialist coffee machine. True to its family run ethos, family members were drafted in to help with the refurbishment, including creating new homemade Scottish bunting. The couple continue to invest in technology, equipment and efficiencies, while offering apprenticeship opportunities, mentorship and training to staff.
Eshan Owarish, owner of OakHill Café & Deli said: “Business Gateway were there for us from the very beginning, providing invaluable local insights when we were new to the area and helping us shape the business with confidence. Later, their guidance in signposting the Climate Resilience Programme and the EV Charger Grant allowed us to turn a practical idea into something that genuinely benefits our visitors.
“The support we’ve received has made a real difference, and as we look ahead, we’ll be seeking their advice again as we explore the next stage, expanding and scaling OakHill while keeping it the welcoming, inclusive place our customers love.”
Gail MacGregor, chair of the Business Gateway board, said:“OakHill Café & Deli shows how rural businesses in Dumfries and Galloway can innovate to meet changing customer needs. By identifying a gap in local infrastructure and responding in a sustainable way, Eshan has strengthened his business and enhanced the visitor experience.
“Business Gateway is proud to support entrepreneurs with the advice, insight and funding pathways they need to build resilient businesses and create lasting impact in their communities.”