Former tutor of maths and English Lisa Price has made a dramatic career change – launching a new café in Rhymney.

Lisa spent 17 years helping prepare young people for employment, the past eight of which has been helping to prepare them for a military career at MPCT (Military Preparation College Training), teaching them Maths and English to GCSE standard at colleges in the area.

Now she has launched Victoria House Café in Rhymney, where she was based for many years, supported with a grant from the Business Start Up programme, run jointly by Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Lisa has transformed the former dentist practice into an eating place, which has achieved the top 5-star hygiene rating just a few weeks after opening.
The café has quickly gained a following of regulars and new customers are coming in daily to enjoy Lisa’s varied menu.

“We launched a short time ago and already have a lot of regulars coming to eat in and get takeaways,” she said.

Lisa is now adapting her menu to the needs of the customers and has plans for expansion. “I am looking to have tables and chairs outside and develop an extra eating area,” she said. In three years, she hopes to have a team of three working at Victoria House Café.

Martin Palmer of UK Steel Enterprise said: “It is good to see that Lisa has turned her ideas into reality with the launch of the new business. She clearly has excellent inter-personal skills and I am sure these will serve her well in this venture.”

Cllr Sean Morgan, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy added, “I must congratulate Lisa on the success so far with the Victoria House Café. This café is a brilliant example of how this funding can help new local businesses grow and I look forward to seeing this business progress further.”

Victoria House Café received a £500 grant from the Business Start-Up programme, which went towards new flooring for the building.

The flexible scheme is designed to help residents of Caerphilly County Borough set up a full-time business for the first time, if they are not able to access any other source of funding. For further information contact the Business Support Team on 01443 866220 or email: business@caerphilly.gov.uk.