Colchester cafe to be taken over by popular Suffolk cafe

The owners of Sip and Tuck in High Street, opposite the entrance to Castle Park, will say goodbye to Colchester after it has been revealed they will take on a restaurant project in Dedham. 

Owner Matt Maestrani said the plan was to develop The Boatyard in Mill Lane, which is run by his family.

They will close Sip and Tuck, which opened in 2017, on November 4. 

Matt, 39, said: “The Boatyard has been owned by my family for over 30 years and came back to be managed by us just over a year ago.  

Takeover - The Sip and Tuck will be taken over by Honey and Harvey, a popular cafe brand from Suffolk (Image: Google Street View)

“The Boatyard is its own entity and won’t necessarily be ‘taken over’ by Sip & Tuck. We still own the building that Sip & Tuck is currently operating from and will be leasing our business to Honey & Harvey.  

“The biggest change is for our family, in that we will be able to concentrate on the plans we have for growing the boatyard, such as launching weddings on our private field, refurbishing the boats and in particular launching our outdoor cinema for Halloween half term.” 

The cafe in Colchester, however, will not stay empty for long, as the new occupants are already preparing to join the city. 

Honey and Harvey has become a popular spot for brunch and coffee specialties in Suffolk, where the business is currently running three cafes located in Woodbridge, Melton and Ipswich. 

Cafe - Honey and Harvey in Woodbridge (Image: Honey and Harvey)

The team is excited to expand to Essex and continue to serve customers at a well-known spot starting from the middle of November. 

Shannon Hammond, operations manager at Honey and Harvey, said: “Expanding our artisan coffee shop into Essex is not just about growth; it's about sharing our passion for quality coffee and creating a community where every cup tells a story. 

Modern - Honey and Harvey are running three successful cafes in Suffolk (Image: Honey and Harvey)

“We’re excited to share our ethos on supporting local produce and business. We hope to retain the previous regulars from Sip and Tuck including staff, welcoming them to our family and hopefully many more new faces also.  

“We’re confident we can bring a positive experience to Colchester and we look forward to meeting everyone.”