Specialty Café Replenishes Locals with Funding Support
- Dec 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Replenish was founded by Lucy Judson, who has always found comfort and community within cafés. After leaving a corporate career in search of fulfilment, Lucy decided she wanted to create a version of that “third space” for others.
Funded by Start Up Loans
£9,000 boost towards:
Initial setup costs
Securing high-quality stock for the café
Machinery
Region: Derbyshire
What sets your business apart from other cafés?
Replenish is a specialty café operating from a beautifully converted horse box, permanently located outside The Pearson Building in Derby city centre.
What sets us apart is a deep commitment to quality, community, and local sourcing. I take pride in serving exceptional coffee, carefully selected from sustainable, traceable producers. Our matcha comes from Good & Proper, a UK-based, women-founded business whose product stood out in every taste test for flavour and quality.
Beyond the sweet treats, Replenish is about people. I aim to create a space that feels welcoming and familiar – a local fixture where you can grab your daily coffee, enjoy something delicious, and maybe even have a friendly chat to lift your day.
What inspired you to start your business?
Coffee has long been a personal passion of mine. My first ever jobs were as a barista, and cafés have always been places I gravitate towards – whether to work, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy that comforting “third space”.
I’ve always had a strong sense that I’d one day work for myself. After leaving a corporate role that no longer felt fulfilling, I found myself searching for the next step which is when I spotted a gap: there was no quality coffee option nearby. I wanted to create that space where people can connect and refuel.
What have you used the funding for?
The funding, combined with my own investment, has been essential in covering initial setup costs and securing stock for the café.
It has supported a wide range of practical needs – from servicing my second-hand coffee machine and installing a safe electrical connection, to sourcing high-quality ingredients that reflect my commitment to offering a premium, locally rooted product.
What challenges have you faced, and how did the loan help?
As a first-time business owner, one of the biggest challenges has been navigating the steep learning curve that comes with wearing every hat. It’s a huge shift from my previous corporate role, and while incredibly fulfilling, it’s also demanding.
The loan has been a huge help in managing these challenges. It’s provided the financial stability to deal with unexpected costs and has given me the space to test, learn, and grow without the constant pressure of needing everything to run perfectly from day one.
Comments from the Founder and our Advisor
“The funding has given me breathing room to make inevitable early-stage mistakes and test different ways of working as I figure out what running a business really looks like in practice. As a first-time founder, that flexibility has been invaluable. Without it, Replenish wouldn’t exist as it wouldn’t have been accessible for me to even consider starting my own business.
My Investment Manager, Lottie was brilliant. She processed my application quickly and clearly explained every step, breaking down the financial elements in a way that was easy to understand. This was something I really appreciated, as navigating loan jargon can feel overwhelming when you’re new to it all.
First Enterprise has also been great at highlighting the continued support available to me beyond the loan itself, which is hugely reassuring as a first-time business owner. Knowing that I’m not alone and have people to turn to makes a real difference.” Comments Lucy Judson, Founder of Replenish
“Lucy’s passion behind creating a warm and welcoming third space in her local area really stood out to me. I could see her vision behind the business, and she was very receptive to my support. It’s been a real pleasure working with her through the loan application process, and I can see Replenish being a thriving café business, bringing comfort and a relaxing atmosphere to the local community.” Comments Lottie Naylor, Investment Manager at First Enterprise
First Enterprise is a responsible finance provider offering unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £250,000 to support both start-ups and established businesses across the UK. Since 2011, First Enterprise has lent over £77 million to 7,305 businesses.
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