Ukrainian refugees reveal reason they have re-opened Dunbeg Beach Café

She recalled walking along the beach and wishing that the Beach Café was open.

She said: “I thought the community needs this cafe,” and after seeing the opportunity to take over the cafe advertised on Facebook the pair decided to put together a business plan.

They were helped in their endeavour by Argyll and Bute Council’s resettlement team and a council business advisor - and are now delighted to have the chance to make the cafe their own.

The ladies are keen to shape their menu around local people’s tastes and there are traditional Scottish breakfast items, burgers, baked potatoes, sandwiches and homemade cakes. Each day there will be a different soup of the day and lunch of the day.

The duo are waiting to see whether any Ukrainian delicacies may have a place on the permanent menu but Yevheniia plans to offer different international cuisine days for SAMS students. The pair have also talked about introducing special student deals.

In Ukraine, Mariia was a primary school teacher and in the future she wants to start offering children’s lunchboxes and run children’s craft workshops at weekends. She imagines putting on activities like gingerbread decorating, adding: “I miss helping children."

There are more than 300 Ukrainian refugees in Argyll and Bute and Mariia is the Oban representative in a committee created for Ukrainians across the area to support each other.

“Mariia is the heart of our Ukrainian community in Oban,” said Yevheniia.

Both women have been learning English since arriving in Scotland, but with two other Ukrainian women now working at the Beach Café, the ladies can enjoy a ’natter’ in their own language.

The team is currently looking for a new front of house staff member and someone to work in the kitchen. Mariia and Yevheniia ask anyone interested to visit the cafe, which is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday between 10am to 4pm.