Flaxfort Coffee, a new café in Kilbrittain, County Cork, is set to open on March 17, serving locally roasted West Cork Coffee. Owner Natasha McSweeney, a local from the area, is taking over the premises previously known as Rebecca’s Kitchen for a 12-month stint. The café will focus on high-quality homemade baked goods to start.
Flaxfort Coffee will launch in Kilbrittain on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17. The venue occupies the former site of Rebecca’s Kitchen, where owner Rebecca Scott is stepping away for a year. Natasha McSweeney, who has renamed the space after the nearby Flaxfort Strand, plans to run the café for the next 12 months.
McSweeney, born and raised in Kilbrittain, drew inspiration from her local roots for the name. “I was born and raised in Kilbrittain,” she told Yay Cork. She grew up baking with her mother and grandmother just 30 seconds down the road from the café’s location. Her professional background includes five years as a pastry chef assistant at Fernhill House Hotel, followed by a year in Vancouver, Canada, starting in September 2024, where she worked in a bakery. She returned home in October and seized the opportunity to start her own business.
“We are going to start small to make sure everything is great quality for our customers,” McSweeney explained. “When the opportunity came up I couldn’t decline it and Rebecca has made the process really easy.” The initial menu will feature homemade cakes, scones, brown bread, and sausage rolls, with plans to expand as operations stabilize.
A highlight of the café will be its coffee: West Cork Coffee, roasted by Tony Speight just 15 minutes away, emphasizing local produce in every cup.