A mother-daughter team heading a popular chocolate café is taking part in a ‘mums love local’ campaign encouraging people to think local when they spoil their mum this Mother’s Day, supporting local businesses at the same time.
Promoting
Think local and find ‘hidden gems’ this Mother’s Day
Mrs Potts Chocolate House was born in Bristol and says local support has helped their business to survive and grow
23/02/2023
Amelia Pocock set up Mrs Potts Chocolate House on Park Street with mum Jennifer Potts in 2017, and said:
I moved to Bristol from Australia and I wanted to open a special cosy chocolate café where everything was made with care using quality ingredients. I was talking to my mum about it who was still in Australia at the time. A few years later, my mum arrived in the UK and said ‘let’s go for it. Mrs Potts is a dessert café that specialises in chocolate. We have chocolate cakes, real hot chocolate, cookies and sundaes, plus workshops and our pudding club. We’d run food franchise businesses in Australia but were excited about being able to build something unique in Bristol.“When we first opened Mrs Potts, my youngest was only four months old. It was my mum and myself cooking in the kitchen. My dad, Michael, was upstairs running the till and making the coffees; it was a real family affair. In the last year or so, my husband Jared has gotten involved in the business, and my brother, Tom, just arrived from Australia three weeks ago. He and his wife are just about to get started with us too.
“I’ve got three kids, a son who is twelve and daughters who are eight and five. It’s a constant juggling act to run a business and be a mum but it’s a really nice balance too. You can focus on the things that are important to you or the business and also be flexible and have the time for your kids. The kids have embraced the business, they love being taste testers.
“We’ve been really lucky that people in Bristol were supportive of Mrs Potts from the start and through the challenging times too. During the pandemic, my dad and I were driving around Bristol delivering products. Now, in the cost of living crisis, our focus is on making the best possible experience. Mrs Potts is a treat but people still want to celebrate birthdays and special events.
“People always ask if I get fed up of chocolate, but I have at least a handful of chocolate every day. This Mother’s Day we have a special dessert morning tea at Mrs Potts; it’s never too early for chocolate!”
Mrs Potts Chocolate House is one of over 150 businesses who are part of the Love Bristol Gift Card, an initiative to champion local businesses in Bristol. The initiative is led by Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID and is available as either a physical or digital gift card.
Jennifer Potts adds:
We’re proud to be part of the Love Bristol Gift Card, with lots of other businesses that we really admire. It’s a great idea to show off all of the unique businesses that Bristol has to offer, and also to help people find hidden gems in Bristol too. If I had a Love Bristol Gift Card, I’d spend it shopping on Park Street, then maybe some pizza at Pizzarova or dumplings at Eatchu.“I think as a city, Bristol really nurtures creative businesses and helps them to grow. In the early days, we knew we wanted to specialise in chocolate but it took time to find our place. The people of Bristol are really willing to embrace independent businesses and their support has really helped us to survive as a business, and even grow, opening two new Mrs Potts cafés in Bath and Cardiff.
“If you come and get a cake from us, it pays wages and gets spent locally. It means we can employ local people and buy from local suppliers. It also helps interesting, creative ideas to stay in Bristol and thrive, which makes our city different from any other city. Your whole community benefits when you shop local.”
VICKY LEE, HEAD OF BRISTOL CITY CENTRE BID, SAYS:
‘It’s fantastic to see a home-grown business like Mrs Potts thriving, thanks to the support of Bristolians. Our Love Bristol Gift Card has created a platform to further celebrate and support the fantastic businesses in the city. The card can be used in over 150 different locations across the city centre including retail, hospitality, attractions and accommodation making it the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.’
STEVE BLUFF, HEAD OF REDCLIFFE & TEMPLE BID, SAYS:
‘The Love Bristol Gift Card is the perfect treat for mums. It can used for so many different venues across the city, from enjoying the many vibrant restaurants, bars and cafes (including the wonderful Mrs Potts), to getting some deserved retail therapy in the national chains and independent stores. Over 150 venues accept the Love Bristol Gift Card so any mum receiving one for Mother’s Day will be spoilt for choice.’
VIVIENNE KENNEDY, HEAD OF BROADMEAD BID, ADDS:
‘We’re proud to showcase Bristol through the Love Bristol Gift Card this Mother’s Day. It has never been more important so shop local and show your support for our wonderful Bristol businesses.’
COLIN MUNRO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MICONEX, SAYS:
‘Our ‘mums love local’ campaign is celebrating the mums who are lifting up local in our towns and cities. When you spoil your mum by shopping local this Mother’s Day, you are also supporting many local businesses, who are employing local people and providing much needed services and experiences for locals.’
Bristol’s gift card is part of the award-winning Town & City Gift Card initiative from Miconex. Local gift cards giants Town & City Gift Cards are leading the national ‘mums love local’ campaign alongside the three Bristol BIDs.
