Debbie shakes café Krumbz into a new home – and a tough New Year challenge

Two months after Munchies closed its doors due to the heat of competition, offbeat café, takeaway and caterer Krumbz has moved into its empty space on the banks of the Kennet — ready to face the New Year with a new challenge.

For 62-year-old Debbie Chapman it is a bizarre moment as she originally launched the family enterprise eight years ago by moving into the original Munchies premises in The Parade, just round the corner.

And for her too it is a bid to shake off the growing competition of cafes and snack bars by making a bid to boost business in tough economic times.

“It’s quite fascinating following in the footsteps of Munchies again by moving here to Kennet Place,” she told Marlborough News Online. “The main reason is that footfall had really fallen on The Parade and we see this as a new opportunity for us in the New Year.

“When we started we were one of the few sandwich bars in Marlborough. Now there is Costas, Caffe Nero, Waitrose, the Food Gallery, none of which were operating then and they say there are around 20 different establishments.”

Indeed, it was the controversial arrival of Caffe Nero without planning permission – and now to be challenged at a public inquiry – that prompted the decision of Munchies proprietor Clare Thomas to close.

“So it is a worry moving into a site where Munchies weren’t making a living out of it,” admitted Debbie with a defiant smile. “The coming year will be what it will be.

“We will work hard, be open long hours and be here every day. Everything we make is home-made and fresh using local produce. And we hope that people will come to Krumbz to see what we’re like.”

It’s a family philosophy and enterprise that has worked well since Debbie came to Marlborough from Swindon almost 40 years ago. She launched Krumbz – “I like quirky things and quirky names,” she explained – in October, 2004.

She caters too for lunches at Marlborough Business Park while her sister, Hazel Dean, manages a second Krumbz outlet at Marlborough’s Leisure Centre, between them employing a staff of nine.

“That’s doing fine,” added Debbie. “It’s like having a captivated audience down there. You’d be surprise how many people go off to the gym to lose weight, then come out and eat our chocolate brownies.”

Her 35-year-old son Martyn and friends totally re-decorated the Munchies riverside premises in Kennet Place before Krumbz opened its doors this week, a new wooden floor was laid by a friend and a Marlborough Stoves installed a glowing fire to keep out the cold.