A new trendy café and cycle hub is creating a buzz in the town of St George.

Victoire Café and Cycle Club, on Water Street, opened its doors to the public a few months ago.

The business has become a hit with both locals and overseas guests since launching.

Owner Tyler Simmons came up with this unique concept to open a coffee shop and cycle hub when he returned to Bermuda three years ago.

“I was living in Canada for the past 16 years and upon returning to the island and living in St George, I noticed a void in the coffee culture, particularly in the East End,” he said.

“There is so much charm and character in the original capital of the island and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to open a coffee bar/cycle club,” he added.

“As for the cycle club aspect, it’s a hub for cyclists, a place to grab an espresso, watch live events when they’re on, and also have a pastry before carrying on to their next spot as cycling and coffee go hand in hand.”

Mr Simmons has a passion for cycling, although he admitted he has not cycled since opening the shop.

“Although the café is for everyone, those cyclists that do come in are of all ability levels, from the very best on the island to children on tandem bikes with their families,” he added.

Saturday and Sunday are the most popular days for riders to come in as the shop opens at 7am.

The café offers hand-made speciality coffees and teas and vegan-friendly baked goods. “The brand of the coffee is called ‘Little Wolf’, which comes from a small café and roastery just outside Boston,” Mr Simmons said.

“They source the highest-quality green coffee selected from various countries around the world.

“Our loose leaf teas are sourced from an independent tea shop in Ottawa, Canada which employs staff to travel to their suppliers quarterly to sample and obtain teas from micro-batch farms.

“At the moment our coffee on hand is a blend from Poaquil, Guatemala, and Sidamo, Ethiopia and features a tasting profile of creamy chocolate and berry notes.”

He added that the shop aimed to provide different bean options and seasonal specials as the year draws to a close. It also offers several milk options, including soy, almond, lactose-free and oat.

The baked goods are supplied by Nea Pantry, the owner of Sweet & Kind Bakery, who specialises in vegan and gluten-free snacks.

Overall the café has been busy since opening. “We established a local clientele within two weeks of opening and the cyclists are abundant. Sometimes they even wait outside until we are open. We also show live racing and various events on the projector in-house.”

Mr Simmons mentioned that the business aims to be environmentally friendly by using plant-based cold cups and lids, along with paper straws and biodegradable cleaning products to keep waste to a minimum.

“Customers are welcomed to bring their own cups, tumbler or Thermos to save more than just money,” he added.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 7am to 4pm.

In the winter months, the café will open at nights for those individuals looking for a place to study or relax.

• For more information visit Victoire’s Instagram page @victoirecafe, website: http://www.victoirecafe.cc or call 704-8200