The family who run a new bagel bar in Crieff say they are delighted at the community’s reaction to its opening.
Bannisters Bagel Bar in James Square is owned by Andy Briggs, his wife Edna and her twin cousins Nicola and Michelle Maxwell.
The takeaway opened on August 12 on the site of the former Java Lava café.
Open every day from 7am to 4pm, Bannisters has been filling an early-morning gap in the market for those who desire a coffee and warm meal on the go.
Both the shop’s unique selling point and name are inspired by Andy’s roots in London’s East End.
Bagels are a big attraction in this part of the capital – they are famously sold 24 hours a day in Brick Lane.
And they are now being sourced, along with meat that includes the popular salt beef filling, from a Jewish supplier in London to deliver an authentic taste of the East End to Crieff.
Bannisters was the name of a wet fish shop in Poplar, also in the East End, that was once owned by Andy’s great-grandparents Henry and Lilian Dupres.
It closed in the 1960s.
“We thought, what better than to name it after some family history,” Andy said.
Bannisters has been a big hit in Crieff since its opening.
“The support from local businesses has been amazing and the customers are lovely,” Nicola said.
This feature tells the story of the family behind the bagel bar and reveals their plans to open more branches in the local area.
Scotland origins
London may be the inspiration for Bannisters, but Scotland is where three quarters of its owners originate.
Edna and the Maxwell twins all come from Glasgow, though Nicola and Michelle, 42, were raised in the capital.
They have travelled widely – Nicola has lived in Cyprus, Thailand and Spain; Michelle resided in Australia for a spell.
For a decade they lived in Qatar, working on separate corporate projects relating to this year’s World Cup.
When Nicola was made redundant after Covid restrictions were implemented in 2020 she decided to return home to Scotland. She chose Crieff because of its family-friendly credentials.
Six months later Michelle followed her, moving to Callander.
Andy was previously a carpenter and Edna a community nurse covering Epping, the area in Essex that they lived in.
For many years the couple had eyed a move to Scotland, and with Edna’s cousins back home it felt the right time and they now reside in St Fillans.
“We would go on holidays together,” Nicola said.
“We would meet up in the Middle East in a villa. As a family we are really close.
“We’d always wanted to set up a business together and we like fresh food and fresh produce.
“We wanted to make food that is good quality and cost-effective.”
Success begins at 7am
Opening at 7am every day is the basis from which the family say they are offering something different.
Andy says he has previously “struggled with not getting coffee on the way to work or before 9.30am.”
“You would have to go in and sit down to have a coffee,” he said.
At 7am there is activity in Crieff. Bus services to Perth and Stirling are up and running and there is already plenty of through traffic on the A85.
Bagels, bowls, shakes and bakes
Customers have taken to Bannisters‘ own-brand speciality coffee and, of course, the food.
The shop sells around 10 different bagel meals, including salt beef, smoked salmon and cream cheese, bacon and spinach, pulled chicken, peanut butter and pizza.
There are five health-conscious Buddha bowls that include grains, proteins and vegetables.
The menu also includes 14 different protein shakes. Nicola felt these would be a good seller after becoming frustrated at not being able to buy any after attending bootcamps.
Cakes and bakes are additionally offered, and there may be seasonal changes such as soups and Yorkshire puddings in the winter.
Vegan and gluten-free options are available.
“We just wanted to offer some variety,” Andy said.
“Crieff has a great little high street that has a lot of potential so we decided to have something that is open early in the mornings and seven days a week.
“We always knew that the bagel shops were busy down south so we thought we would do it here.
“They have been going since the 1800s and never changed their recipe so they must be doing something right.”
Middle Eastern popup nights
Two special popup nights have also been planned.
Bannisters is offering Middle Eastern takeaway specials at 6pm to 9pm on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22.
Customers can order chicken, beef or falafel shawarmas served on an Arabic wrap or with Arabic rice.
“We will see how this goes and maybe do a different theme,” Nicola said.
“We may do a different theme every month.
“We are not trying to attract pub leavers but families who want something to eat that is healthy, fresh, flavoured and a little bit different.
“If you notice a gap in the market you can always add to a town or a vibe with something different. It’s about knowing what the need is.”
‘Blown away’ by support
The family say the town has embraced the shop but the relationship has been two-way.
They have sourced coffee machinery from Bob Mitchell at Caffeine Fix, electrical services from Eco 3 Electrical and worked with Fish in Crieff.
Paul Connelly from Auchterarder-based Connelly Designs drew up the shop’s signs, and fruit and vegetables are sourced locally.
“Delivino Crieff put out lovely messages, Victoria Bloom put in flowers, we have also had help from Valentines from over the road,” Nicola said.
“We were blown away by how supportive people have been.
“From customers to local businesses, it’s been amazing.”
‘Driven’ team have different roles
Roles are split between different members of the team.
Nicola makes sauces, pickles and falafels, while Michelle deals with finance, administration and procurement.
Andy and Edna are usually on the shopfloor serving customers.
“As a team we are all contributing in different ways,” Nicola said.
“We are all driven people.
“We thought it would work and it has worked well and will continue to listen to what customers want and what we can provide.”
Expansion on the cards?
Despite only opening two months ago, the family have plans to grow.
“We plan to take this to other places so would like to have a few more,” Nicola said.
“It is a good business concept and the idea is to have a couple of them in Perthshire and Stirlingshire.
“This is why it is important to listen to your customers now because when you take it to another area you may have a model that works but you have to keep listening and improving.
“We are ticking the boxes for families, for gluten free, for vegan free.
“We are considerate of customers and what they want and listen to them, which is how you progress.”
Conversation