Working with the Tides
Discover the independent coffee house and roastery only accessible at low tide.
One mile off the Northumberland Coastline, located mid-way between Newcastle and Edinburgh, you’ll find the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. A mysterious tidal island which twice each day is cut-off from the rest of the world by fast-moving North Sea tides. Tidal islands are not an unknown phenomenon in the UK; you may be surprised to hear there are 43 of these surreal places scattered just off Britain’s shores. The remoteness of part-time islands lends them an air of mystery which often enshrines their place in local legend and folklore. As such, the history of the two square mile isle of Lindisfarne is one of religion, refuge, and raids — and while plundering Vikings are no longer a concern, the changing tides still offer daily challenges to those living and working on the island.
Inspired by the pioneering café culture witnessed whilst travelling in Australia, Northumbrian Andrew Mundy had the vision to bring something comparable back to his home on Holy Island. In 2014 he commenced coffee roasting on the island, initially in a yurt, with the intention of providing the local community and daily visitors with delicious, high quality and sustainably sourced coffee. Fast forward eight years and the business is thriving. To keep up with the ever-growing demand for freshly roasted beans, Pilgrims has recently re-purposed an old shipping container to accommodate the upscaled home of the finely tuned operation.
The fact Lindisfarne is inaccessible for almost half the day isn’t just something for visitors to the island to contend with — it also throws up challenges for businesses like Pilgrims. Andrew tells us “It could be a glorious Saturday afternoon, in the height of Summer, but we’ve got to close… the tides are coming in and your team need to get off the Island before they become stranded”. Pilgrims has come to accept this unique occurrence and now views the incoming tides as an organic break in business proceedings. In a world plagued by a notion that we should be working longer and harder hours, this rarity is rather refreshing. Nevertheless, as part of the mission to provide world-class coffee to the masses, Pilgrims now operate a very successful online store, supplying wholesale produce to many businesses in the north east and reducing reliance on favourable crossing times.
For Pilgrims, it’s not the changing tides that give the team sleepless nights, but the ongoing conflict that occurs when attempting to grow a successful business whilst minimising your resulting impact on the environment. Sustainability awareness is something that has grown within Pilgrims over time and is now firmly at the forefront of every decision the business makes. Within the coffee industry, they intend to lead the way. Every paper product is made from recycled materials and all disposable packaging is compostable. They use an electric vehicle for all local deliveries and have recently invested in the most efficient gas roaster on the market, saving thousands of kilograms of carbon dioxide every year. Andrew believes single-use packaging is their biggest contribution, however, uniquely, it is something he works on daily in order to create or to find a solution. Presently, anyone who visits the roastery is encouraged to bring their own container and will be rewarded with 10% off their order for doing so.
Despite the unique challenges of running a business situated on a tidal island, Pilgrims has adapted their mindset to work in harmony with the tides and minimise the impact of business operations on the environment. The coffee house and adjacent roastery continue to evolve year on year, adding further intrigue to this quirky location offering reputedly the best cup of coffee in Northumberland.
Pilgrims is open year-round and opening hours are subject to the tides. Access to the Island is via a 3-mile man-made causeway which is only passable at low tide. If visiting the island, you must adhere to the strict crossing timetables on either side of the causeway. Following these times will ensure your safe passage.
