One of Carlton‘s most popular cafes is set to have new owners after the current boss announced her retirement.
Marie Jackson is in charge of Piginns Cafe Card & Gift Shop on Carlton Hill and retires tomorrow (30).
Regular customers and local business owners say Marie has become a ‘stalwart of the community’ since launching her business on the Hill more than 20 years ago.
Marie opened her first Piginns Cafe Card & Gift Shop having taken over ‘Quackers’, before subsequently moving to a bigger premises a few doors away at 340 Carlton Hill in 2008.
Since starting the business, she has become a community champion taking part in campaigns to help businesses and residents living on and around Carlton Hill.
She was at the heart of a campaign in 2018 to raise money to install a community memorial bench in the sensory garden on Carlton Hill in memory of local Carlton Hill characters who sadly passed away. Calendars were sold and an auction held in Piginns, with £1,000 being raised to pay for the bench. The remaining money was donated to the Age Concern charity.
Marie (and her team) at Piginns won the “Business in the Community“ Pride of Gedling award in 2019, an award that recognises the role that local businesses play in supporting the community.
During Lockdown, the cafe team supplied meals for the vulnerable and elderly and have also been providing free Christmas dinners for lonely people in the community on Christmas Day.
The Piginns owner also won a Contribution to Landmarks Specialist College award at the Landmarks Employer Awards 2018 for helping young people with disabilities.
In February 2023, Marie and the customers at Piginns made a ‘sizeable’ donation to nearby business ‘Just Delicious’ in Carlton Square following the theft of their charity box
In a social media post, the business praised Marie and the team saying: ‘Thank you so much Piggins Cafe on Carlton Hill. We had our charity box stolen off the counter last week and Marie and her customers have kindly donated a sizable chunk of money for us to pass onto Notts and Lincoln Air Ambulance.’
Piginns has now been sold to new owners.
The popular cafe owner will be holding a formal ‘goodbye’ party at Top Spot, Carlton on Tuesday, December 5 starting at 2pm, with a second for the ‘party animals’ from 5 pm till late.
”I have seen, personally, how Marie has supported the Carlton Hill community, offering both individual support to customers who need it and support to local charities and events. Her involvement in this community is going to be missed.”
Suzy, Age Concern Carlton
“She is an amazing individual and has conquered so much throughout her life. An inspiration and I have truly found my best forever friend.”
Sam Smith, former colleague and friend
Marie will formally retire, not “formerly”.