The owner of the business is Jane Nolting-May, who willingly admits to being a refugee from the London rat-race. "I rented out my house there in 2005", she quips, "and with my wedding-dress under one arm and my cat Buddy under the other set out for a new life in Dorset with Mike, my husband-to-be!"  

 

After a year's sabbatical (involving a lot of competing with her other chap, Collin the Anglo-Arab endurance horse) the urge to get back into business was too great to resist - hence the Octagon.

 

"It's a massive change from my former life in big-company sales and marketing" she says. "but I get a real feeling of satisfaction when I see our customers enjoying their visit to the Octagon, especially when one of our new lunchtime specials hits the spot!"

 

 

 

 

Jason is our master chef, working from Tueday to Saturday. He's ably supported by Vicki, our head barrista, who takes over as chef on Mondays to give him a well-earned day off! Jason joined the Octagon in October 2008 and has brought some really exciting new ideas to our lunchtime menus.

 

The Octagon "Team Chef" has risen to every challenge thrown at it so far, ranging from full banquetting for a society wedding to feeding a hungry and battered paintballing team (which included Jane's husband Mike) while preparing a sandwich delivery AND serving our regular customers - full respect!

 

Jason brings his own brand of humour to the Cafe, delivered in a dead-pan Lancashire drawl as he creates another of his tempting dishes. When Jane arrived wearing a pair of Audrey Hepburn-style wrap-around sunglasses, he was heard to remark "Eh, you've missed the turning for San Moritz by a mile, love!"

 

Vicki has been with us since September 2007, and is very popular with customers and staff alike, with a sympathetic ear and words of encouragement for everyone. She makes superb coffee and has really taken to running the kitchen on Jason's day off.