Leigh Eats the heart of Leigh Village
It’s a sunny Sunday morning, and I’m sitting in Leigh Eats cafe and fish'n'chip shop on what has become a weekend ritual: coffee and a savoury (or cinnamon) brioche. As I wait for my order, I notice the chirpy locals who pop their heads through the entrance and yell, "How are ya!" They wave happily at Tim and Annaliese, the shop owners manning the front counter and coffee machine. Warm greetings are exchanged, followed by "See ya soon!"
It's only 8:30 am, and already the shop is packed with regulars, local families, their furry companions in tow, and groggy out-of-towners; there is a familiarity in the air that instantly brings back memories of my childhood growing up in the Bay of Plenty, of my cousins and me running barefoot into our favourite fish’n’chip shop after a long day at the beach.
Laid-back interiors with a nod to the past
Nostalgia and good old-fashioned Kiwi hospitality underpins the atmosphere at Leigh Eats. The shop’s recent interior design refresh, spearheaded by Annaliese, gives a nod to Kiwi retro. The distinctly nautical colour palette of deep navy and red with a pop of minty blue heightens the sense of stepping into a Kiwiana postcard, with its tiled white countertops lined with red grout and walls adorned in handpainted art by artist Loren Taylor, who is also the design talent behind the shop’s flower logo.
“Being in Leigh, we wanted to have a distinctly local vibe - an ode to our love for the sea, a slightly retro feel, and some classic fish and chippy shop colours,” said Annaliese.
“Our talented friends at Dialog Studio created an awesome branding suite for us, including our new logo, menu designs, website and merch. The interior design scheme unfolded from there.”
The refresh also included reconfiguring the outdoor seating area. A cleverly constructed glass canopy installed by Shade Design, a local company in Warkworth, now stands in place of the former shade sail, allowing for outdoor mingling come rain or shine. Sturdy benches built by Annaliese’s Dad, Mike, a talented builder, maximise the space, allowing additional seating.
The team behind the love
Great food and great service are two must-have ingredients in a successful hospitality business, but for it to become truly beloved and embraced by its community, it needs heart—something that the team at Leigh Eats wears on its sleeves.
Tim and his wife Zoe took over Leigh Eats in 2021 just as the world was coming out of lockdown and the country was heading straight into a busy summer. In 2022, Annaliese and Josh (another husband-and-wife duo) joined Tim and Zoe as joint owners. Trina, Tyla, Honey, and Sophia make up the rest of the tight-knit team.
Sometimes, you don’t have to die to go to heaven. Leigh is truly paradise; it has a great blend of people who all bring so much character to the town and our shop. We’ve made some amazing connections, and having community support is awesome
Annaliese, Co-owner of Leigh Eats
Drop by the shop any day of the week, and you’ll notice that laughter and camaraderie are as common as the coffee orders. The banter between the team and first-name interactions with their customers draws people in like a hug; there's a tangible sense of community within the space where humans (even barefoot) and furry companions are welcome.
“Sometimes you don’t have to die to go to heaven. Leigh is truly paradise; it has a great blend of people who all bring so much character to the town and our shop. We’ve made some amazing connections, and having community support is awesome,” said Annaliese.
Keeping it local
The team’s love and passion for their customers are evident in the thoughtfulness and care they put into their food. Tim and Josh have taken on the job of sampling every item on the menu (as Annaliese has confirmed - many times over) to ensure that they are putting out food that is not only delicious but also pays homage to age-old Kiwi favourites (with a Leigh Eats twist).
You can expect to find your Kiwi classics on the menu - from grilled or battered fish'n'chips and potato fritters to cerviche, bacon butties, and crowd-pleasing burgers. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity - the deliciousness is in the details:
Chips? Crispy and surprisingly airy.
Fish of the day? The batter is light and fluffy, and the fish meaty and super fresh.
Beef burger? Gourmet, juicy and packed with flavour.
Cerviche (a personal favourite)? Creamy yet refreshing, a must for summer evenings.
Coffee? Consistently excellent.
The list goes on.
The food at Leigh Eats is yummy, fresh and locally sourced. Supporting local suppliers is a significant part of their culinary and business approach.
"We love being able to support local, using local suppliers like Leigh Fish for our fresh grilled or battered fish, Matakana Village Butchery mince for our beef patties, and Monaghans of Warkworth for much of the rest of our produce," said Annaliese.
Leigh Eats offers more than just coffee and takeaways. They give customers a taste of the New Zealand Kiwis love - down-to-earth, easy-going, where good kai is served with a good yarn and a side of tomato sauce.