Owner of Tinker’s Granddaughter in Lymington, Robyn Chiedozie, wins Young Business Person of the Year at the Hampshire Business Awards

THE woman behind Lymington restaurant The Tinker’s Granddaughter has been named Young Business Person of the Year in the Hampshire Business Awards.

Robyn Chiedozie, who opened her vegan eatery on the High Street in October 2022, said she was “thrilled” to have won the accolade, which had recognised her efforts to bring the community together.

The whole ethos behind her venture was centred around “bringing people together” and creating a shared space.

“There are no single or double tables here,” Robyn explained. “Just sharing ones. It’s funny because people are so British – they come in and say, ‘Oh, there’s no table’, because someone, or a couple, is already sitting at one of the big tables.

“So, I guide them towards it and say, ‘Oh no, there is plenty of room here!’ and encourage them to share. Then after a while I hear them chatting away to the other people on the table and I just love it.

“Some of my customers have made friends in here for life, some of whom were quite alone before. Seeing that happen has really made me happy.”

The Tinker’s Granddaughter, a licensed café and deli in which everything served is plant-based, was named in honour of her grandfather, whom she remembers always “tinkering away”.

Her mum Karen, who collected the award on Robyn’s behalf, said the honour was a “big tribute to him”.

Robyn opened her venue on Christmas Day so those who would otherwise be alone could share a festive lunch with others.

Customers included a “young couple who had just moved to town” and two regulars who have become firm friends after meeting in the café.

“It was such a special Christmas Day because previously it’s been a quiet day for just me, my mum and grandma,” said Robyn.

“So to be able to share it with others was lovely.”

Robyn runs monthly supper club evenings, during which up to 12 people – often six couples – enjoy a special menu in a private dining room in the attic of the café.

She said: “They often have never met before. So, I serve a cocktail as an icebreaker and after a few minutes I can hear them laughing and chatting away.

“Usually, by the end of the night, they are all firm friends with plans to meet up again.”

Robyn worked in a cocktail bar while studying interior design and architecture in London, and had proved so good at mixing drinks she was sent all over the world to take part in cocktail competitions.

Her experience led her to set up her own bar and restaurant consultancy business. But she eventually sold it and went to cook on a yacht, travelling the world.

Robyn started her vegan venture with a food truck called Dorrie, named after her great-grandmother.

After the Covid lockdown, she ended up in Ibiza at a yoga retreat, where she earned rave reviews for her self-taught vegan culinary skills.

Robyn said: “It was really the first time that I realised I must be good because people were travelling from the other end of the island just for my food.”

She returned to Lymington, where she was born, and started taking Dorrie to festivals.

“I don’t class myself as a chef – if you put me in a professional kitchen, I’d hate it,” she said. “When I opened the café, I wanted the same sort of vibe Dorrie created.”

Robyn continued: “My food is inspired by Middle Eastern chef Yotam Ottolenghi – so it’s very vibrant, fresh, and colourful.

“Everything is as local as possible. I pick the veg myself at Warbourne Farm in Pilley and Lightfoot’s Farm in Sway.

“A lot of customers are not actually vegan but come here because my food is, as they say, the “freshest tasting” on the High Street.”

Sadly, Dorrie is no more, having been wrecked in a crash last year that Robyn was lucky to walk away from unscathed.

In her place is ‘Billie’ – named after a great aunt. Robyn intends on taking her to festivals, and the truck is also available for hire for weddings, private parties and corporate events.

The café, she says, remains a place for “everyone and anyone” and has areas upstairs for community groups to hire out.

It is open for lunch, coffee, cake, and snacks from 11am until 3pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit www.thetinkersgranddaughter. com