Well-loved breakfast and brunch spot, Break the Fast London, were the deserving winners of the Best New Business award at the 2023 Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards – and now, co-owners and long-time residents Sindi and Elie Kayembe are thrilled to be one of the five familiar faces fronting our Discover Lewisham campaign.
“We were both foodies, our home is our biggest test kitchen. We’re always staying up late watching cooking shows and experimenting in our kitchen.”
Breakfast is the pair’s favourite meal of the day, and their business was born out of a dream to bring “not just breakfast, but good tasting breakfast” to the local area.
Break the Fast started out of their home, initially as a pick-up service. When the space opened in Catford, they took on the exciting challenge of turning their dreams into a reality.
Now, a year and half later, they Break the Fast open their door every weekend to people coming from all over wanting to try their delicious, globally inspired meals. With a fusion menu that ranges from French Toast to Shakshuka to Carribean favourites like Ackee and Saltfish – there’s so many exciting dishes you can try. Their current café is a weekend pop-up, open on Saturday’s and Sunday’s. Here you’ll often find the space filled with people, a (fast-moving) line out the door, a smiley team led by Elie and Sindi and plates everywhere brimming with colour.
“At Break the Fast you get beautifully designed plates that you want to pop on your Instagram, as well as food that just tastes fantastic.”
They encourage everyone to come out and check out their offering in the heart of Catford, just a short train journey from London Bridge.
“It’s good to be local and to bring people from all over the place to come and visit Lewisham and see what it’s about. There’s so much going on now.”
Sindi and Elie are a great example of having a go, working it out along the way, listening to your community and seeing the results of hard work. They said:
“For anyone who’s thinking about starting their own business, just take the first step and get into the habit of failing forward. As long as you’re moving, you’re getting better and you’re going to get even closer to what it is that you’re trying to do.”
When they began the pop up, they had just had their baby their month before and gone back to full-time work. Currently they work seven days a week to manage their café as well as other work.
“You can make things work, if you really want it.”
After much anticipation and customer demand, they are thrilled to soon to be opening a new space for Break the Fast which will be open full-time at the new Lewisham Gateway. They are happy to be staying in the borough.
Sindi and Elie are grateful for their Lewisham customers who have championed them throughout the entire process, consistently giving feedback and encouraging them.
“We’re opening up our second space as a dedication to our loyal customers who’ve been really kind and helped us build this brand.”
This hidden gem is one of the many proudly independent small businesses that Lewisham has to offer. Here’s our guide to a great summer in Lewisham.
Visit Break the Fast London:
- 7 Bromley Rd, Catford, London SE6 2TS
- Open: Saturday & Sunday between 10am–4pm, last seating at 3.30pm
Discover Lewisham
We are proud to launch Discover Lewisham this Summer. Since 2022, this is the fourth time we have run a Discover Lewisham campaign, and this time round we are featuring local business as the face of Discover Lewisham this Summer. These local businesses were all winners at the 2023 Mayor’s Business Awards, as voted by the local community.
It originally started out as a six-week campaign over the 2022 summer that positioned Lewisham as an events destination, using the London Borough of Culture programme as an anchor to attract local people to stay in the borough and spend locally, and visitors to come and discover what Lewisham has to offer.
Did you know, in London, VISA/CBRE have also calculated that for every £10 spent locally, £3.80 remains in the local economy. This could double if people actively choose to spend more locally. So, we are encouraging people through this campaign to stay local and spend local, because if our Lewisham businesses thrive, so does the community. Whether it’s relaxing in our award-winning parks, attending an outdoor festival, or exploring the local cafés and arts scene, there’s plenty to enjoy – and it’s only an 11-minute direct train journey from London Bridge station.
So visit your local, explore a part of the borough you might not have ventured to before, make recommendations to friends, comment on social media, share your experiences, it all goes a long way to making sure our local business community are supported, and shining a light on Lewisham as a vibrant, diverse and exciting borough.
Lewisham Council has utilised it’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation to support the Discover Lewisham this Summer campaign.