Friendly West Sussex coffee house thriving after six years on busy high street – 'you have to adapt to survive'

Harriet Hislop owns Harriet’s in Churchill Avenue, right in the heart of Rustington’s thriving high street. Launched in March 2020, the artisan business opened a week before Covid hit and was forced to shut down almost immediately.

Despite the tough start, Harriet said it helped her to build relationships with the village residents as she and her team started providing a take-away service.

It also taught her resilience and the art of adapting to what is happening in the world at the time.

She added: “At one point, we were the only business open in the high street so people were coming to support us. We were some people’s only conversation that day as they came to get a coffee, so I think that really helped us get known and get to know people.

"I was driven to make the business work because it’s my passion. It’s a lifestyle choice, and if you don’t put the work in nobody is going to do it for you. It was fight or flight, I just went for it with the help of my really supportive team and family.

"There’s a lot of that around in Rustington. I think we have a lot of warmth that you don’t find in bigger places and cities. I’ve never experienced a place like it, and I think it’s brilliant that everyone is so supportive, from the customers to other businesses.”

Before starting Harriet’s, the 34-year-old worked as a sports supervisor for the Royal Caribbean cruise line for five years. She decided to make the change to allow her to put some roots down in the area she grew up in.

She went to the school in Rustington, attended Brighton University and even worked at the Coastal Café next door to Harriet’s when she was younger.

She added: “I loved coffee and it was always my not-so-secret dream to own a coffee house in the future, it all just happened quicker than I thought it would.

"But the opportunity for this space opened up and it seemed like the right decision and I’m 100 per cent glad I did it.”

Harriet has a lot of regular customers, which was evident when I visited on Tuesday morning. So many people stopped to say hello to her, and considering it was a midweek morning, the coffee house was busy.

Harriet said that is thanks to regular groups meeting up there, as well as loyal customers coming back time and again because of the friendly feel she and her team have tried to create.

She added: “I think when you go to bigger coffee chains, you’re more of a number. I find our customers remember things about us, and come back and ask how we’re getting on.

"They’re invested in us, which I think brings them back, and we get to know a lot about them, too.”

Harriet’s serves toasties, baps, soup and pastries every day. And on weekends, they have a breakfast club where they serve proper breakfasts and pancakes.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday they run bistro evenings, where you can book a table for dinner up to 8pm.

From May, they are also launching happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 6pm, when customers can order spritzes and more to enjoy inside or in the afternoon sunshine outside.

Harriet has seven members of staff, and tries to source her produce from local suppliers including Flour Pot bakery, Ashley James meat, Cast Iron coffee and milk from Goodwood.

Of the fact Rustington has a lot of eateries, Harriet believes it is only a good thing.

She said: "We all offer something different, and none of us step on each other’s toes. I think more eateries is great for the area as it provides variety and brings more people in. There is room for all of us in Rustington. As long as you’re consistent in doing your own thing, people will come back.

“You can’t just stay the same because everything around you is changing. It’s a constantly changing environment and you have to adapt to survive. I’m really happy in the fact we can say we’re still here after six years – it’s worth its weight in gold."