Godalming Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We profile some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Godalming'.

Today we caught up with Jo, who runs Natter Cafe in Farncombe.

Florence the maid is a well-known face in Farncombe - from her vantage point outside Natter Cafe she sees all the comings and goings of Farncombe's residents.

She was brought to Farncombe by Natter Cafe owner Jo - and her journey here was a memorable one.

"I bought her at an auction in Ardingly," Jo explains. "I was with a friend, and we did wonder how we were going to get her in my car (she stands almost six feet tall).

"And then on the way home I got a puncture so my friend and I were standing at the side of the road with Florence waiting for the breakdown truck to arrive. We got a lot of funny looks!"

The building at the end of St Johns Street, near its junction with Farncombe Street, has been a cafe since February 2016. Before then it was a tailor's shop, which at one time had a bit-part in the Channel 4 comedy Man Down, starring Inbetweeners actor Greg Wise.

Jo took over Natter in July 2018 - she and her husband Mark decided to take the plunge, despite never having run a cafe before.

"Mark had taken early retirement from the City and we were looking for a new challenge," she explains.

"Since we took over he has gone back to working in the City - and I am here!"

Mark, however, does go in at weekends to help out with making the coffee and carrying out practical tasks such as fixing the dishwasher - one task he has had to roll his sleeves up and complete.

The cakes and scones on offer at Natter are all home made, and set out for customers to choose from on glass-domed serving platters: coffee and walnut, chocolate and hazelnut, lime and coconut, Bakewell tart and Millionaire's shortbread are usually found gracing the table.

Breakfast is very popular, with customers enjoying everything from the full breakfast to eggs Benedict, Royale and Forentine, croissants, toast and yogurt.

Lunchtime fare encompasses a tempting range of sandwiches, including salmon and dill, sausage, egg and cress, ham and mustard – and if you want to push the boat out, there is even a high tea for two.

They are famous for their amazing coffee too, as well as artisan teas, hot chocolate and cold drinks including smoothies, home-made lemonade, elderflower and fruit juices. This year has been difficult for small businesses, but Jo is full of praise for the way her staff – and customers - have adapted to the new restrictions. During the first lockdown she quickly realised that there was still a lot of demand for the hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes she serves, so a quick rearrange saw the front sash window pressed into service as a serving hatch. Customers were welcomed through the front door to a counter, where they gave their order and then waited outside for it to be passed through the window. They reopened just in time to serve their customers under the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, and then of course had to close their doors again in November. Now, after lockdown 2, Natter Cafe is open again, with a one-way system in place, and all the by now familiar Covid security rules in place. There are fewer tables indoors and people can only eat in groups from their own household. Jo has brought in some patio heaters for the garden, which is lit up with sparkly strings of fairy lights.

"If you are a group of six from different households you can't eat inside," she says, "so we have made it nicer to sit in the garden in this cold weather!"

The staff were thrilled to see their regular customers when they reopened.

"It's been lovely," Jo says. "We've been blessed beyond belief with phenomenal regulars, and they were waiting to come back in as soon as we reopened."

Natter Cafe has become a popular place for locals to meet for coffee or breakfast, passers-by to collect a coffee and a cake to take away, and workers to drop in for a sandwich at lunchtime. They have a lot of regulars. "I would say we know about 85% of our customers by name," avers Jo.

And she is aware of the important part her cafe plays in the community, and in helping people to socialise or pop out for company – very important for people, particularly elderly people, who live alone.

It's been good for the staff to get back to work as well: "Coming to work is really, really important," she says. "This year has made us realise how important the community are to us: we have missed that interaction. "It works both ways: they are as much a part of our lives as we are of theirs." You can follow Natter Cafe on Instagram, Facebook and on their website. With today's announcement The Natter Cafe will revert to running a takeaway service only for the time being. Like what we do? Please like our Facebook page.