Sampaguita Cafe owner on 'difficult decision' to close venue

Tess Ryan has run Sampaguita Cafe, at St Marys Courtyard in Calne town centre, since 2012 but announced in January the popular eatery would be closing permanently this summer.

The 50-year-old, originally from the Philippines, has been a staple of the town centre for over a decade and became popular locally for her Filipino and Asian cuisine.

But now she has decided to leave the cafe behind in May as she searches for new challenges and “more freedom.”

Reflecting on the decision, Mrs Ryan told this paper she would be sad to say goodbye to the many friends she made while running the business.

Tess Ryan with her dog (Image: Tess Ryan)

She said: “It’s so difficult but I had to make a choice and even though I’m going to miss everything here I think it’s time for something else.

“I will never regret having a business like this because it was an amazing thing to do.

“When I said I was leaving some of my customers were heartbroken and in tears, it’s very sad because I made so many friends along the way.”

Mrs Ryan already had a love of food and cooking when she moved to Calne 23 years ago and was able to put it into action when she took over the unit off Church Street.

In the years that followed she built a loyal customer base in the town.

She added: “It was a blessing when I got this cafe, my brother had recently died and starting the business gave me something else to focus on.

“My customers are amazing, they supported me through the pandemic and everything, I can’t thank them enough.

“My favourite thing was talking to the customers who became friends and family.”

Sampaguita Cafe, Calne (Image: Newsquest)

The cafe will close after a farewell party with music and food on May 18.

Mrs Ryan will be staying in Calne where she will explore new ventures, as well as spending more time with her dog, away from the pressures of running a business.

She said: “I want something different that is maybe less work because running a business is hard.

“It’s very stressful because even when you go home you’re thinking about it… I want to work less hours and have time for myself now.

“I’m not really leaving because I will still be serving takeaways from my home, maybe once a month, and I will have time to meet the friends I’ve made.”