The Lunchbox reopens in new Bedale venue

The Lunch Box, which was previously in Masham for the last six years, has now reopened in Bedale, with a successful launch yesterday (April 8).

Owner Steph Dawson, 38, said the move came together quickly after she spotted the opportunity for the new location earlier this year.

The Lunchbox in Bedale (Image: The Lunchbox)

She said: “I found out at the end of February that the shop was available, and at first I thought I’d be renting it.

“But then they decided to sell it, and luckily I had the opportunity to go for it. I got the keys on March 4 and we turned the whole thing around in four weeks, which was a really quick refurbishment, but I set a very short deadline and we just got on with it.”

The Lunchbox in Bedale (Image: The Lunchbox)

Steph, who previously worked in the police for more than 13 years, opened The Lunch Box in Masham six years ago after deciding to pursue her passion for baking.

However, she said declining footfall in the town led her to consider relocating to somewhere new.

She said: “I’d been in Masham for six years, but the footfall had dropped quite drastically in that time.

“We live nearby and our children go to school in Bedale, so when this place came up it just made sense. It’s a better location, there’s more footfall, and I felt there was a gap in the market here for what we do.”

The new location on Bedale’s high street is already proving to be a hit.

The Lunchbox in Bedale (Image: The Lunchbox)

On opening day, customers were waiting outside before the doors opened at 9am, followed by a steady flow of people throughout the day.

The 38-year-old said: “I was a bit worried at first, thinking ‘what if nobody comes?

 “But we had someone waiting outside when we opened and then it was just steady all the way through until mid-afternoon. It was much better than I anticipated, and we were really overwhelmed by the response from everyone.”

The Lunch Box is known for offering a wide range of takeaway options, including hot and cold sandwiches, salad boxes, jacket potatoes, cakes, tray bakes and hot and cold drinks, all made from fresh, locally sourced produce.

The business also provides outside catering and has a small seating area.

The Lunchbox in Bedale (Image: The Lunchbox)

Steph said the support from the community and other businesses has been “amazing”.

 She said: “We’ve had such a lovely welcome.

“So many local businesses have come in with gifts and kind messages, and the support online has been amazing as well. I’ve gained thousands more followers since announcing the move, which has really helped spread the word.”

Looking ahead, Steph hopes the move will allow her to focus more on baking, which she says is the part of the job she enjoys most.

She said: “Baking is what I love doing and why I started the business in the first place.

“Ideally, I’d like to get to a point where I can have a couple of staff running the shop while I focus on baking full-time.

“I’m happy keeping it small though. I just want to be busy enough to make it sustainable and keep doing what I enjoy.”

You can find the new venue at 37 Market Place, Bedale, DL8 1ED.