On a bitterly cold but beautifully sunny December morning, I arrive at a warm and welcoming café in the pedestrianised heart of Perth City Centre. Co-owner, Audrey is attending to a floral display in the outdoor seating area, unaware of what is about to happen. Today I will announce to Audrey and her team, that she has won our Heroes of Hospitality Award, thanks to an entry submitted by her proud husband John.

The heart of the community Originally an award-winning florist, serving hot drinks alongside, Audrey discovered that good coffee (and her dog Oscar) was what really brought people through the door. Soon, the flower shop would become a coffee shop, with a little floristry on the side. And soon the coffee shop would become a second home to many of Audrey’s customers.

But like so many independent cafes, success didn’t happen without a mountain of hard work. I settle in with John and Audrey in a cosy lounge above the café to hear their story.

Humble beginnings “When we started out, we had so little” Audrey explains. “We had to build our business bit by bit. Our customers saw that. They’ve been there from the start. When we got our first dishwasher for example, they were just as excited as we were. They’ve been through it all with us.”

Over the years, Audrey has created a cosy and comfortable space, perfected her menu, introduced traditional afternoon teas, held pizza nights and hosted MacMillan coffee mornings, to name but a few. But it is clearly the warm welcome that really attracts people to the Rose House. Audrey is first to admit that customers often stay for hours. “It’s not about making money for us”, she explains. “We just love making customers feel welcome.” The Rose House is somewhere for people to settle in, enjoy a warm drink, indulge in some good food, and enjoy a chat. “We know everyone’s names. We know their pets’ names! Explains Audrey. “We never move people along”.

No shortage of Challenges After working so hard to build this beloved home-from-home, it must have been heart-breaking when in 2019 the side wall of the café collapsed, forcing a prolonged closure for repairs. And if that wasn’t bad enough, when all the work was finally completed, a neighbouring chimney stack fell down and damaged The Rose House once again.

In 2020, Audrey and John entered the first COVID-19 lockdown running a temporary pop-up takeaway shop a few doors down. Yet they warmly recall offering takeaway service and having socially distanced catch-ups with customers on the public benches outside. Once again lending an ear to those most in need of it.

John adds, that during the pandemic, Audrey took it upon herself to deliver shopping to elderly customers. “Well we had customers who were on their own, stuck at home” Audrey explains. “I felt lucky to have a family around me. Some people didn’t have that. It was the least I could do.”

But the worst was yet to come. In early 2021, Audrey was diagnosed with cancer and quickly scheduled for surgery. Determined not to be beaten, the day after her procedure, Audrey was straight back to work, chatting to customers and keeping the warm welcome intact.

Audrey loves her business so much that she visits on every day off too. She can be found moving from table to table, chatting with her loyal customers, offering an ear and some warm words. And despite the tiring effect of the medication that she must now take every day for five years, she still allocates just one weekend a year to be completely separated from the café.

A Family Affair Where does this passion for hospitality come from? Audrey's family were in the fish and chip business and she recalls peeling potatoes for the chip shop as a small child. Though she had initially chosen floristry in a deliberate move away from hospitality, it somehow came back around. “My mother would have loved this place” Audrey muses, recalling her mum’s passion for entertaining. “That’s why I named it after her.”

One of Audrey’s employees, Caroline, shared her thoughts on Audrey’s win: “I have known Audrey since our children were in primary school and I have worked with her for the last two years. Running three businesses, she is an inspiration to many. During the pandemic Audrey has continued to be her strong, resilient self. I think the love from her family has helped her through, that and a bit of stubbornness! I cannot think of a better person to receive this award.”

Looking Ahead So, what’s next for Audrey and the Rose House? “Well, we’ve been growing our own fruit and veg in our garden at home” explains Audrey. ”And we’ve acquired the paddock next door too” she adds. “I’d like to introduce a lot more of our own fresh and healthy produce to the menu”.

Besides the Rose House, John and Audrey run a wedding floristry business and another local shop. They are clearly committed to hard work and to their community.

A very deserving winner What do customers love most about Rose House? Whilst we couldn’t agree more that Tiki coffee is a real crowd pleaser (“Our customers love our coffee” explains Audrey) it is most undoubtedly the warmth and kindness of their host that is the real reason people come back.

And so, I leave this beautiful coffee shop, with a great deal to contemplate on my journey home. Congratulations to Audrey, for creating far more than a fantastic coffee shop. The Rose House is clearly a beloved second home for the good people of Perth. And Audrey’s warmth and dedication to her customers, even through the toughest of times, lies at the heart of it all. A very deserving winner of our inaugural Heroes of Hospitality Award.

Find out more about the Rose House on their facebook page.