Whether you’re popping in for a quick coffee or trying a signature brunch, if you’re in Leigh you can’t go wrong with a trip to Little Talk Cafe.

Owned and run by husband and wife duo, Jose and Claudia Silva, Little Talk has been a hit with Leigh residents since it opened its doors five years ago.

The beautifully designed cafe, who’s signature dishes are Jose’s unique brunch creations, has a steady stream of customers throughout the day and made a name for itself as a go-to destination for high quality food.

Owners, Jose and Claudia SilvaOwners, Jose and Claudia Silva (Image: George Pizani)

From poached eggs and avocado to a traditional full English, Little Talk Café offers something for every palate.

The path to Little Talk’s success wasn’t straight forward.

Jose bought the space in late 2019, just months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, surviving the lockdowns by providing takeaway roast dinners to Leigh residents.

When the cafe was able to reopen, Jose explains that he was serving only “five or six customers each day” but say’s “the way Little Talk is today is my biggest achievement”.

The perfect size! - inside Little Talk CaféThe perfect size! - inside Little Talk Café (Image: George Pizani)

“Now, we’re booked up every day. We went from zero to 100” he added.

There’s no big secret behind this success, Jose attributes it to his focus on great food and equally great service.

“We try to have a friendly approach, especially with our older customers, and are welcoming to everyone. We’ve always got smiles on our faces and try to provide a good service all the time.” he said.

Poached egg and pulled pork muffinsPoached egg and pulled pork muffins (Image: George Pizani)

Despite Little Talk’s sky-high success, it’s certainly not an outlier in Leigh; independent businesses consistently seem to thrive in the town.

Jose believes this is all down to the town’s residents, saying that “if you treat them well and you try to provide what they’re looking for, which is good service, good food and a good atmosphere, the people love helping small businesses like ours”.

He added: “That’s what’s different from every other place.”

As for regular customer Pam Bean, 75, she believes the secret to the success of Leigh’s small businesses is even simpler; “It’s got ladies that lunch” she said.