Shirley café has its best day ever after customers rally round following break-in

An independent café in Shirley has had its busiest day since opening eight years ago, after customers rallied round when the business was broken into and its till stolen.

The Two Mugs, in Shirley, Solihull, had its door kicked in and an empty till taken, leaving its owners feeling "demoralised". After they posted the news on Facebook, customers piled into the café on Sunday to show their support, increasing sales by 20 per cent. Extra staff had to be brought in to cope.

"Exhausted and loved"

"Closing the doors for the day I felt exhausted and loved, it felt like a warm, nice day and everybody left with a smile on their face," owner Natalie Capewell told the BBC.

Ms Capewell, a former IT manager, said "all credit" went to her staff, who worked without breaks to keep up with demand. She and Leon O'Garro said the atmosphere was "chaotic", but the team pulled together.

"It was firstly overwhelming, but actually a lovely experience as the fact that Shirley came out to support us made it all worthwhile," she added.

From a low to a high

A break-in is one of the hardest things a small business can face. As well as the cost of repairs and lost stock, it can leave owners feeling unsafe in a place they have built from scratch. For a small independent café, even an empty till being taken means a damaged door, time lost and a hit to morale.

What turned that around at The Two Mugs was the response of the people who use it. A single post on social media was enough for regulars and neighbours to turn up in numbers, buy a coffee or a meal, and show the owners that the café matters to them.

Why independents matter

Independent cafés and shops are a big part of what gives high streets like Shirley's Stratford Road their character. They are often run by local people, employ local staff and become meeting places for the community, where people know each other by name.

The story from Shirley is a reminder of how much difference customers can make. Spending money with a local independent business, especially after a setback, helps to keep it open, and keeps the money circulating in the local area.

A lesson for others

Small business owners who are hit by crime are encouraged to report it to the police, check their insurance cover, and talk to their customers. As The Two Mugs found, being open about what has happened can bring support that owners might never have expected.

For the team in Shirley, a bad week ended with their best day yet, and a reminder that their customers are firmly in their corner.