Nuda, a health-focused cafe specializing in build-your-own acai bowls, has opened at 215 Seabank Road in New Brighton after a back-room operation at the owners' Liscard home became so busy it puzzled neighbors. The cafe launched at the end of May, but its origins trace back just a month earlier, when Kris Leigh and Leanne Jones started the business from their home.
From Home Kitchen to Permanent Cafe
Leanne Jones, 36, a former head of year at a secondary school, and Kris Leigh, 31, a sports coach, initially ran Nuda from a back room in their home. They set up an app for pre-orders and collections, operating only on weekends while keeping their full-time jobs. Jones told the ECHO: "We turned a back room into a kitchen and set up an app where people could pre-order bowls and drinks before collecting them from our house. The neighbours must have wondered what was going on because we had people knocking on the front door and cars parked everywhere."
Alongside home collections, the couple attended markets, local gyms, reformer studios, and business openings, collaborating with other local businesses. Nuda's popularity surged after a successful appearance at New Brighton Farmers' Market, where they sold out within a couple of hours. The hype and growing social media following led Sola Beauty, on Cambridge Road, to offer the couple space at the back of its beauty hub, enabling them to turn their online success into a permanent cafe.
Rapid Growth and Staffing
Since launching, Jones has left her full-time job to focus on Nuda. Leigh said: "It's been a wild three months. We never imagined it would take off to this extent. Right now, our priority is finding our feet because demand has been far greater than we expected. We quickly went from one or two people working to having five or six staff helping over the weekend just to keep up with orders."
The cafe is open Tuesday to Friday from 7:30am to 3pm and Saturday to Sunday from 8am to 3pm. Customers can eat in the courtyard, collect takeaway orders, or book Nuda for events, weddings, and fitness clubs.
Community and Future Plans
Jones noted the positive impact on the local area: "Other businesses nearby have told us they've noticed more footfall and social media engagement since we opened, which has been lovely to hear. We want everyone around us to benefit." The cafe also employs Jones' 14-year-old son, who has additional needs, providing him with confidence, social skills, and work experience in a supportive environment.
Jones added: "We think the UK is only just catching on to acai, while countries like the US and Australia are much further ahead. As we grow, we want to introduce more products that are healthy, look great and taste amazing, while still allowing for a few indulgent options." Nuda plans to organize health and fitness events, continue trading at markets, and partner with local businesses to become an integral part of the community.
