Brae cafe: Chapelton’s unmissable gem

Situated five miles south of Aberdeen, the vibrant town of Chapelton offers residents and visitors a lively town centre full of thriving small businesses catering to a wide range of lifestyles. 

Nestled in the heart of Chapelton is Brae, a charming family-run cafe built around the local community, offering customers a warm and inviting atmosphere and menu brimming with delicious food and drink. Since launching in 2022, Brae has quickly become a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike, providing a welcoming space for regulars and new faces to visit and enjoy the locally sourced delights on offer. 

We sat down with Jodie, co-founder of Brae, to discuss what customers can expect when visiting Brae, the inspiration behind opening a small family-run business in the heart of Chapelton and some exciting events in the pipeline…

What inspired you to establish Brae and where did your passion for hospitality come from?

“My family and I initially opened a gourmet pie business, Breer Pie Co., during the summer of 2020. With this being our first experience of running a small business in the hospitality sector, Breer Pie Co. allowed my mum, brother and I to learn what it’s like to work together as a family, and the business was launched at the Chapelton Farmer’s Market in September 2020. From there, we built a brand (and product) that we were incredibly proud of, as well as a family of pie supporters who helped us create our first successful small business. 

“When the opportunity to start Brae was presented to us, it felt like the perfect chance to put all that we learned from Breer Pie Co. into this new concept, and we began to build our vision for Brae from there. We believe that all roads led us to Brae and we are so proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in such a short time – all thanks to our amazing loyal customers!”

What can residents and visitors expect when popping into Brae?

“Brae is an inviting space that feels just like coming home. We love welcoming in our regulars as well as new faces in the cafe, and particularly enjoy our customers’ excitement around the scones, questions about who makes our delicious food and seeing them discovering all the little details that make Brae, Brae.

“We spent a lot of time carefully selecting suppliers; from our specialty coffee supplier, Figment, our tea supplier, Tea Drop and our free range pork for our sausage rolls, supplied by Ingrams. There is a lot of love, care and attention that goes into this busy little place!”

Since opening in 2022, what has been your favourite thing about being situated in Chapelton?

“Definitely the community, other small businesses and fantastic local support. We can feel Chapelton’s appreciation for Brae and our team strives to make every visit a great experience, ensuring each and every customer feels welcomed and appreciated. 

“Running a cafe isn’t always an easy job, but the positive feedback, 5 star Google reviews and engagement on social media make it all worthwhile. I hear it all the time – ‘Chapelton is the place to be’ – and we feel very lucky to be part of the Chapelton story.”

How does Brae contribute to the community of Chapelton?

“Brae offers a hub in the middle of Chapelton that is centred around the community. We love knowing our customers’ names, coffee orders and seeing their wee ones grow up – including those that we met at our first weekly mums group back in summer 2022! Brae is the perfect place for Chapelton residents and visitors to unwind, meet friends, grab lunch and just enjoy being in this beautiful new town.

“We also love getting involved in community events. In 2024, we are one of the proud sponsors of Chapelton’s 10K, and last year we entered (and won!) a category in the Chapelton Scarecrow Festival. It’s lovely to be part of such a thriving and vibrant community.”

Can you tell us a little bit about the recent events that have been hosted at Brae? And do you have any exciting upcoming events?

“We’ve hosted a few pie nights, yoga brunches with Sal The Wellness Warrior as well as dried flower wreath making with Karen from This is 36 in the past few years. We have lots of exciting plans for more wellness inspired events coming over the summer, including a few local collaborations. Watch this space!”

If you’re paying a visit to Brae, don’t forget to stop by The Boxes, Chapelton’s innovative retail hub, Patey Park and the scenic Chapelton trail – starting at Hume Square in the town centre! 

To find out more about the other businesses in Chapelton, visit the website: https://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/business-directory/

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