The Artists Formerly Known As Bridge Cottage Cafe

07/03/2025

The new market season is nearly here, but it’s time for a change for me. My pinny is getting hung up to have a break from the pop-up cafes at the Poolewe Tuesday Market. This of course doesn’t mean I am giving up raising funds for the wonderful Highland Hospice as Michael and I, along with a great team have for many years. Sadly, though the café just isn’t the same without him.
I look forward to still seeing you all and being at the market with my own Highland Hospice stall, selling my jam and other bits and bobs and with our great community and lovely visitors support I can continue to raise money for the vital work of the Highland Hospice.
Love Connie x

19/12/2024

It’s been a very difficult year but as Michael would have wanted us to, we have continued with our fundraising for the Highland Hospice and with the love and support of so many we have raised fabulous amounts for this very worthy charity once more. Our total from fundraising this year at time of print is £13,530.15, plus we’ve sold over £1,700 of Hospice Christmas Cards and calendars.
We couldn’t have done this without the support of so many. The majority of our fundraising was done at the Poolewe Tuesday Market, where we raised over £9,500 in the pop-up cafés we hosted. Thanks to the market, it’s stallholders and customers for their support, along with the Poolewe Village Hall Committee. Most importantly though thanks to all the amazingly generous bakers – Clare, Pete, Lesley R, Anne, Chris, Kate & Gillian and the hardworking kitchen crew – Lesley H, Marylynn, Christine, Lesley W, Carol,Kate, Brenda, Penny, Trish & Chris, plus Johnny, Scott & William for their help tidying up at the end of a tiring day! Thanks also to those who made things for us to sell this year in aid of the Hospice, along with Connie’s jam, we raised funds selling Joan’s marmalade, Mary’s lemon curd, Jan’s handmade decorations and toys and Lesley H’s knitted dogs. At the recent Christmas market, we had our tombola stall and thank you to all the individuals and businesses who donated enough prizes to weigh the table down! Also thank you to Santa and his Elf Ailish who raised money in the grotto for us too. Other fundraising throughout the year came from Lorna running a pop-up café, Stephen selling bacon rolls and so many donations from so many individuals – thank you all!
Over and above the money we have raised we’d like to express our thanks to Jade and Amber who took part in the Great Wilderness Challenge in Michael’s memory, raising over a thousand pounds themselves. Michael would have been so proud of you both.
So as the year comes to a close, we want to thank you all for your support and kindness since the passing of Michael.
Connie, Alison & Laura ###

24/11/2024

Looking for donations for our Highland Hospice Christmas tombola. Get in touch if you could contribute anything 🌻❤️🌻

As ever at our Christmas markets we will be fundraising for the fabulous Highland Hospice . Christmas cards and calendars will be on sale. Connie's cafe will be at both markets donating all takings to the hospice as ever. The treasure map game will be making it's usual appearance along with other fundraising fun all for the Hospice. Jan has been busy making some Christmas gifts for us to sell and there will be Connie's scrummy raspberry jam! On top of that at the Poolewe Christmas Market & Santa's Grotto on the 7th of December all takings from Santa's grotto will go to the hospice and we will have our tombola also raising funds! If you have anything you could donate to our tombola table it would be much appreciated! 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

18/08/2024

So immensley proud of these girls running the 13mile Great Wilderness Challenge yesterday honouring Michael in such a fitting way. They did so well and have raised a magnificent amount for the Highland Hospice in Michael's memory. There's still time to sponsor Jade and Amber if you'd like to -
https://greatwildernesschallenge.enthuse.com/pf/jade-moore?fbclid=IwY2xjawEuhzJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVC26-ff9Zz0sITSUxO_ykiYDt5OPwlxbyk-XHpPOpezGgJ3ghu_I724UQ_aem_6gAkegqBmaDtvYPdUrr2Jg

12/08/2024

Poolewe Tuesday Market tomorrow and we're hosting the cafe for the Highland Hospice so we do hope you can pop by to see us and all the great stalls. We have done a few cafes in the last months and will update you on our fundraising so far this year soon, but would love it if you wanted to support the fabulous work of the Highland Hospice you considered sponsoring local ladies - Amber & Jade who are taking part in the Great Wilderness Challenge this Saturday. Running the 13 Mile run in memory of Michael. It's been almost 5 months since we lost Michael and it doesn't get any easier but we are so very touched that Jade & Amber will be honouring him this weekend by taking part in the challenge. Please show them some support and sponsor them via the link below

21/05/2024

Highland Hospice pop up cafe at the Poolewe Tuesday Market today. Come along and see us here until 2.30pm

17/05/2024

We will be running the cafe at the Poolewe Tuesday Market on the 21st and 28th of May raising funds for the Highland Hospice.

26/04/2024

Thank you to everyone who made our celebration of Michael's life such a beautiful day - to everyone who came along on the day (some travelling quite some distance), to those that sent their thoughts if they couldn't come, for all the fabulous donations of cake and flowers, to the kitchen team who kept the coffee and tea flowing and the dishes washed and to so many others. The day was a testament to our fabulous community and was the most fitting farewell for Michael. We have received donations in excess of £2000 in Michael's memory for the Highland Hospice and they're still coming in. If you would like to donate to this cause that was so close to Michael's heart online donations can be made via https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/93weOHqhs0
Thank you with love
Connie, Alison & Laura x

17/04/2024

Donations to the Highland Hospice in Michael's memory can be made via https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/93weOHqhs0
or at the celebration of Michael's life on Saturday.

10/04/2024

We would love you to join us in celebrating Michael's life on Saturday the 20th of April at Poolewe Village Hall 10am-12pm. Come share a cuppa, some cake and happy memories with us. Donations accepted in Michael's memory for the Highland Hospice (if you can't join us on the day donations can be made via PayPal link in comments)
Connie, Alison & Laura

25/03/2024

It is with great sadness that we tell you that Michael passed away recently after a short illness.
We are having a small private gathering for Michael's funeral, but in the near future we will let you know of details of a celebration of Michael's life where we hope some of you will be able to join us and share your stories and happy memories with us.
Connie would like to say thank you for all the kind thoughts and words of comfort she has received.
Connie, Alison & Laura x

09/12/2023

Santa's here!

08/12/2023

The elves have been working their magic and Santa's grotto is just about ready for the Highland Hospice Santa's Grotto & Cafe tomorrow, just santa and some presents missing! Come along tomorrow to Poolewe Village Hall 11am-3pm to see santa and oh so much more!

08/12/2023

The hall is set up for tomorrow's cafe and fundraising, the elves will have the grotto ready for santa by the morning! Don't miss out see you tomorrow between 11am and 3pm at Poolewe Village Hall

07/12/2023

So, Harry’s got his outfit all sorted for our upcoming Christmas Extravaganza. Unfortunately he isn’t allowed in the hall, so sadly we’ll have to leave a bear behind.
However, you are all more than welcome to come along on Saturday, 11 till 3, for our final fundraiser of the year, to enjoy the festivities (and cake!) with the added benefit of adding to the £18,300 you’ve already raised this year, for Highland Hospice. Hopefully the weather should be better than last week, and you can all manage to get along.

05/12/2023

Thanks to everyone who supported us last week at the Christmas markets, now we are in full prep for our last event of 2024 the Highland Hospice Santa's Grotto & Cafe here's a taste of last years event. We'll be running the cafe serving soups, hot filled rolls and cakes, there will be the Highland Hospice Christmas Cards on sale, our huge tombola and other hospice fundraising activities, plus other great local good causes will have stalls including Poolewe Primary School, Poolewe Village Hall, Russian Arctic Convoy Museum, Project Linus, BDMLR Wester Ross and Judith's Fundraising Stall. And not forgetting the main man himself Santa will be in the grotto with presents for the kids. Do come along and help us raise funds for the great work the Highland Hospice do. 11am-3pm at Poolewe Village Hall Saturday 9th December

26/11/2023

Make sure you pop along to the Poolewe Christmas Markets on Friday and grab yourself a baked potato for your tea from our Highland Hospice pop-up cafe. We'll also be serving homemade soups and cakes and on the Saturday we will be serving soups and filled hot rolls along with more cake! See you there!

26/11/2023