Bloom n Witches, Spennymoor – from school run chats to community hub

Two friends who began chatting on the school run have reflected on the last three years of their business.

Danielle Jackson and Abbie Brown run Bloom n Witches in Spennymoor, a café, shop and community hub which opened in 2022.

The pair said they never expected to own a business together, but the idea came from school run chats.

Abbie worked from home making artificial wreaths and garlands and used to run children’s music and movement groups. Dannielle, who is a ‘witch’ has always been interested in spirits and tarot readings.

Bloom n Witches in Spennymoor (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Dannielle explained how the business originally started.

She said: “We decided to join forces because what is prettier together than crystals and flowers?

“We teamed up and that is how the business started really. It was a bit of a shock, but then it grew into a coffee shop as well a workshop space. It was a shop originally, selling witchy goods, crystals and florals.”

The idea to open a coffee shop within Bloom n Witches came around 18-months after opening.

“Lots of people were asking us if we were a coffee shop and we thought maybe this is universe telling us that is what we need to do,” Abbie said.

Bloom n Witches in Spennymoor (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“We were making our dinner one day as there was a little kitchen in the workshop space and people started asking us if we did food and coffees.

“We didn’t but thought it would be a great idea and it has been really successful.”

The duo admitted they always had an idea of opening a coffee shop, but said it happened a lot sooner than planned.

Dannielle said: “I always had the idea of selling crystal infused teas and coffees. We also have our own brand of coffee which has been crystal infused.

“We serve drinks in cauldron cups, and they are really different and unique, we do potion drinks for kids. It is that little bit of extra magic in everything that we do.”

Danielle is a witch and has always spoken with spirits and carried tarot cards (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Dannielle’s mum died when she was young and she was brought up by her auntie, which is where her love of witches and tarot readings came from.

She said: “My auntie is a witch, and I just thought it was normal to speak with spirits and carry tarot cards with me, that was always in my upbringing.

“As I got older, I started to explore that more and opened myself up to it. If I wanted any witchy items or crystals, I used to have to go to the cobbled streets of York or Edinburgh and it just made sense to open something up in this area because there was not really anything available.

“It was totally niche and different, and we did not realise how much of a community there was out there, wanting and needing something like that.”

The pair said people were thanking them for opening in Spennymoor. People also commented on the energy of the place and the duo said customer feedback makes them feel like they have done something worthwhile.

Bloom n Witches in Spennymoor (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

She said: “It is a very whimsical, enchanted, magical place, it is like a feast for the eyes wherever you look.

“We are kind of a destination place because you can come and do some shopping, but you can also stop and have something to eat and a coffee as well.

“We are not just a coffee shop; we are a whole experience. People are wowed when they walk through the door and they always leave feeling upbeat and with higher energy levels.”

Dannielle added: “It makes us feel proud and that we have done a really good job. We love what we do, and it comes across in our work and our customers know how much we love it as well. Nobody ever leaves disheartened from here.”

Abbie admitted the business is bigger and more successful than they realised it could be, but there is still more to come.

The pair said Bloom n Witches is a destination shop (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

She said: “We have just launched our website too for people who do not live nearby. We can spread our little bit of magic further than Spennymoor.

“We try and bring a little bit of magic to everyday life. We already get people that come from across the North East and the other day we had someone come from America that ordered something. If we can help more people that would be amazing.”

The business opened more in 2022 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

And the business owners offered advice to anyone who is thinking of starting their own business.

Abbie said: “Give it a go and do not be scared, hard work does pay off. If there is something missing that the area needs, people are going to fall in love with it.”

And Dannielle added: “Especially if you have something a little bit different. The thing with us about witchcraft is there are still a lot of stereotypes out there about what witchcraft is.

The duo opened a café around 18 months after starting the business (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“We are in a position where we can try and break the stereotype a little bit and say we are normal people.

“There are a lot of people now who are embracing being a witch or having a spiritual side.”

Bloom n Witches is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, with private events available to book on Sunday’s.