A new cafe offering healthy coffees and smoothies has opened in Truro. Luxe in New Bridge Street specialises in natural skin and body treatments, and has added a ground-floor bar serving adaptogenic and nootropic twists on hot and cold drinks.

Adaptogens, which are naturally occurring substances found in plants and fungi, are said to affect how the body deals with stress, anxiety and fatigue; common examples include ginseng, turmeric and ashwagandha. Nootropics such as ginkgo biloba and fish oils - often referred to as ‘cognitive enhancers’ – reputedly improve thinking, learning and memory.

Owner Leeann Griffith has been working from the first floor of the building since March last year, offering natural and medical-grade skin treatments as well as food intolerance and hormone testing (especially fertility and menopause).

Her interest in natural skincare was piqued while working as a dental nurse. “My boss sent me for training in Botox and fillers, but by the time I’d qualified, he’d changed his mind about offering them,” she recalls. “I’d started to research natural treatments, did more courses and found a new job with a surgery that wanted to offer aesthetics.”

Leeann took the decision to go it alone after the pandemic, and once settled into her new premises, devised a menu of hot and cold drinks aimed at helping consumers’ physical and mental wellbeing. These are available to all customers, not just those taking treatments.

Shakes include high protein Choc-o-Luxe, containing banana, avocado, nut butter, collagen and raw cacao nibs; Matcha Power with blueberries, and Clean Green with kale and mango. Adaptogenic black coffees and superfood lattes contain ingredients such as collagen, lion’s mane fungi, beetroot and peppermint.

“While most mainstream stuff is full of refined sugar, these are natural and organic,” Leeann explains. “They taste amazing and are aimed at helping your body and mind, renewing your energy without a mid-afternoon caffeine or sugar slump.”

She also has plans to offer food, including pastries from native grains and a selection of sourdough sandwiches and toasted bagels.

Leeann borrowed a Start Up Loan worth £4,000 for cashflow and the cost of an employee to staff the bar. “I’m a single mum-of-two, so I needed a bit of extra help. Bank interest rates were really high, and it was nice to have a more personal approach, rather than an algorithm."

Part of the government-backed British Business Bank, Start Up Loans offers personal loans of up to £25,000 and free mentoring to help anyone start or grow a new or early-stage business. SWIG Finance is the bank’s Business Support Partner in the South West, delivering £7-million last year alone to over 400 new and early-stage businesses.

"Leeann has recognised a new industry trend, with people far more conscious of what they put into their bodies and how it affects their health,” said senior Start-Up Loans manager Jo MacEachen. “She’s proved the market is there and is clearly ready for the next stage in her business. I will definitely head to Luxe for a fortifying shake the next time I go shopping in Truro.”