Lola Leamington adds the finishing touches to the new cafe on Regent Street with a colourful crowd-funded mural that celebrates family.
Mama Murals, the creative practice of Warwickshire-based mural artist Emily Marlowe, has completed a colourful new mural at Lola Leamington, the much-loved café on Regent Street that recently relocated following a community crowdfunding campaign.
Earlier this year, café owners Katie and James Jensen moved cafe Lola to its new home in the blue shop at 49 Regent Street. Fuelled by local support, more than 350 community members donated to help fund the move, many choosing rewards such as coffees, wine boxes or having their name painted on the wall.
As the final touch to the refurbishment, Emily from Mama Murals was commissioned to create a bespoke mural reflecting the story behind Lola.
The mural tells the personal journey of Katie and James, beginning in Manchester where their story started as a natural wine company and then continuing to Warwickshire, where their family and Lola café have grown side by side.
Painted with warm colours and Emily’s playful style, the mural depicts Katie and James as a couple on one side, and on the other with son Otto and twins Poppy and Olive. A tribute has also been included to honour Katie’s late father, Bob, who was a huge supporter of the café. He is painted leaning over the café bar, coffee in hand watching over the shop.
Katie and James smashed through their fundraising target with the help of the community. The support they received just shows how integral they are to the community. Katie is also a birth Doula and antenatal educator and has been able to create a space in the back of the cafe to hold classes and events too.
Local regulars popped in during the painting process to check on the mural as it developed and to keep an eye out for their name going on the wall.
“It has been such an honour to be trusted with a mural that holds so much meaning, I'm so proud of how it turned out and am receiving so much positive feedback from the community. The space feels so warm and inviting and reflects the warmth of the incredible community that Katie and James have built." says artist Emily
The cafe seats have now returned to their regular spots and Katie, James and the team are back serving incredible coffees and the best focaccia toasties (I can account for this as I worked my way through their menu in between painting).