FLIRT Café, your “home away from home” in Bournemouth Triangle, has been chosen as the Trader of the Week.

Flirt is a café dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for the people of Bournemouth.

Current owner Ed Watts took on the beloved company in June of 2021.

“The business was on its knees.

“I thought 'the only way is up'", he said.

Ed saw that it had been a good business and that there had been so much love put into it, so he decided to build it back up with the help of the community.

Assistant manager Sophie Cox, recounts that Ed “completely revamped the place."

As well as offering a range of food and drink, Flirt hosts multiple events, including regular bingo nights with special event ‘curry bingo’ - a classic bingo night with a twist.

Sophie recalls that “being out of the box” and “being out of the ordinary” with special events attracts customers.

She said: “In this day and age, you have to be good or offer something that other people don’t in order to be successful."

Ed and Sophie both admit that it is hard to be a small independent business in Bournemouth at the moment.

Ed said: “It’s hard to operate on the high street and it’s hard to operate in the economic climate that we’re in at the moment."

They have struggled with issues such as high energy pricing, inflation and wage increases, but have continued to fight through.

“Flirt deserves to survive and flourish," he said. 

Ed expresses that Flirt is so much more than a café, adding: "It’s a home away from home."

Ed and Sophie are both extremely grateful for their regular customers and familiar faces.

Sophie said: “If you want a friendly home from home vibe that’s a bit more soulful than going to a chain coffee shop, you’ll definitely find that here, which I think most places are missing nowadays.

“It has a big place in our hearts, a lot of us have been here for a lot of years and I don’t think we would’ve stayed if it wasn’t for Ed and the community he’s created.”