New coffee hotspot on Avon Beach

Avon Beach has a new mobile coffee outlet, and its owners say its carbon neutral design is the “first of its kind in the UK”.

The Raft at the tourist hot-spot Gundimore Promenade is the result of six months of hard work by owners Chris Farr and Andy Daish, who work in events and are well-known locally for organising the New Forest Marathon.

The pair have been awarded the tender to operate on the site by BCP Council.

“Having grown up in the area and being water lovers, we wanted to create something unique to benefit both local residents and visitors with minial impact on the environment,” said Chris.

“Our mission was to deliver something really special and push the boundaries both to the level of service and the environmental qualities of a mobile outlet.”

The Raft will sell the pair’s own blend of coffee, Steamer Point Coffee, along with Jude’s Ice Cream and various snacks.

A unique vehicle, the van has a combination of solar panels and gas powering the multitude of appliances onboard.

An app-based computer system manages the solar draw throughout the day, with energy stored in a set of lithium batteries positioned in the rear of the vehicle.The system delivers power to each appliance in the most economical way, ensuring everything is kept at the optimum temperatures.

Products sold onboard are ethically sourced too, with tea from a carbon neutral supplier that uses 460 solar panels to power its factory.

“Their tea bags are made with a newly developed plant-based tissue which is entirely free from oil-based plastic and is 100% compostable,” said Chris.

Hampshire-based Jude’s is a carbon negative company that have won doznes of Great Taste awards and also produce plant-based ice cream.

“We sampled lots of flavours, and from these we selected the best 12 flavours,” said Chris. “In addition to these we stock a wide range of vegan options – which have a 40% lower carbon footprint than dairy – and of course the dog ice cream.”

Cups and lids at The Raft are compostable, and Andy and Chris make the sleeves themselves using a stamp created in Highcliffe to avoid factory processes involved in printing.

“The Raft is far more than just another coffee kiosk,” said Chris. “It’s an inspirational business model that protects the environment, brings together the local community and provides premium products from one of the most idyllic locations on the South Coast.”

For more information, visit www.the-raft.co.uk