Lockdown success story: Bagel business buddies bring 'The BBC' to Sidmouth

Lockdown has been a test of all of our abilities to adapt in a time of crisis. The pandemic is universal, yet how it has affected us individually has varied greatly.

For Dan Lakeman and Amelia Craven it meant an entire change of livelihood; from professional careers to setting up a hospitality business from scratch - all within approximately two weeks.

The Bagel Shop, situated in The Courtyard in Sidmouth, boasts an impressive choice of bagel fillings from the classic 'New Yorker' to 'This Is The BBC' - with brie, bacon and cranberry.

Sidmouth Nub News caught up with best friends come business partners, Dan and Amelia, at their newly established shop premises to ask them about their lightening flash appearance in the town's centre.

"Basically, Covid hit and we both lost our jobs," Dan explained.

Amelia was a member of Cabin Crew for Virgin Atlantic and Dan a marketing agent for a luxury hotel brand. The pair had also worked together in a previous job.

Dan continued: "It happened so quickly. Amelia was made redundant on the Monday [June 22], we viewed the premises on Monday afternoon, signed the lease on Wednesday and then opened a week and a half later on July 4.

"It all fell together nicely - the two units we now use as the shop and for storage never normally come up at the same time."

Amelia said: "We kitted it all out ourselves. So, we went and sourced everything and did all the decorating ourselves."

"I didn't know I could decorate so well - I didn't even know how to paint!" Dan joked.

When asked 'why bagels?', Dan said: "Because there's nothing in Sidmouth quite like it. No one does Bagels. And everyone we spoke to said what a good idea.

"It's new for the town and an addition to what's already here."

"It's quite quirky," Amelia added.

Speaking about The Bagel Shop branding and design, Dan commented: "Because I come from an advertising background, I wanted everything to be 'instgrammable' and to encourage people to engage with us through social media."

You can check out The Bagel Shop website here and follow them @BagelShopSidmouth.