Twelve Triangles, the celebrated bakery by Emily Cuddeford and Rachel Morgan, has opened the doors to its second location in Melrose, Scottish Borders. Situated on Market Square, the new café offers a larger space, housing a retail range of kitchen essentials and homemade and artisan products, seating for dining in, and a dedicated space for children and families.
From its kitchen, guests can order Twelve Triangles’ takes on classic comfort food, including Porridge with Seasonal Compote, Pistachio and Walnut Granola with Natural Yoghurt and Seasonal Compote, Sourdough Cheese Toasties and House Baked Beans with Sourdough Toast, Cultured Butter and Scottish Cheddar.
A selection of sourdough ciabatta sandwiches, scones and pastries will also be available from the expansive counter.
Generous shelving surrounds much of the shop’s interior, allowing Twelve Triangles to showcase a curated range of homemade and locally-sourced products. Here, guests can purchase enamelware and ceramics, as well as Twelve Triangles merchandise and a selection of kitchenware that Emily and Rachel find most useful in their own homes.
Twelve Triangles’ homemade brunch staples are also on offer, including seasonally-changing jams, granola, coffee and signature croissant biscotti, as well as chocolate created in collaboration with Ocelot. Emily and Rachel’s debut cookbook, Kitchen Table: Simple Things Made Well, is also available to purchase.
The shop is flooded with natural light thanks to large arched windows and the walls are painted deep ochre to bring a warm, relaxed and cosy feel. Most of the furniture has been sourced from local antique dealers, with a standout draper’s table acting as a pastry counter as a nod to the heritage of the mills in the Scottish Borders.
An oak refectory table in the window overlooks Melrose’s Market Square, designed for convivial dining to bring a sense of community to the space. In the family room, a long pew-style bench offers an ode to the disused railway station in Melrose, and a toy kitchen creates a playful environment for children.
Downstairs houses a third room complete with an original antique stove; after a period of refurbishment, this room will become a reading room for a touch of tranquility within the cafe. The original Melrose location on High Street, now affectionately known as ‘Little Melrose’, remains open for pastries, bread and coffee to take away.
Of the opening, co-founder Emily Cuddeford said: “Little Melrose has been open for just over two and a half years now. Within the first year we noticed that people needed more space to spend time in the shop, to meet others and catch up. We thought it would be beneficial to the community to be able to build a bigger space with more comfortable seating and a dedicated family room.
“Rachel and I both have children, and we truly appreciate and value being able to go somewhere where you are welcomed. To have a space for you and your children, thoughtfully designed with toys so that you can enjoy some time with a friend for a coffee or a much needed bite to eat. We wanted the whole community to feel part of the shop and that it was a space made for them.”
The new Melrose location reflects the evolution of the Twelve Triangles brand, which celebrated its 10th birthday this March.
The menu of classic, comforting breakfast and brunch dishes will also be available at Twelve Triangles’ other cafes in Stockbridge, Dalry and on Easter Road, and each of its cafes and shops will undergo refurbishment to showcase a refreshed identity – complete with new logo.
The new Twelve Triangles emblem, a bread stamp, is made from a slice of their house sourdough, representing the importance of the relationship with the communities of farmers and millers that supply the bakery, as well as with the bakers themselves.
