Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew has announced a new business venture with her husband Neil Varcoe, as she continues treatment following her cancer diagnosis.
The couple revealed on Instagram this week that they have become the proud owners of a café in regional New South Wales.
The business, called The Village Grocer, is located in the small town of Carcoar, where they are also transforming a country pub into a luxury guesthouse called Saltash Farm.
Bartholomew shared a video showing the pair inside the new café, which is due to open in just over a week.
“It’s super, super exciting – it’s going to be all local produce,” she said in the clip.
“We open next Sunday,” she added, to which her husband replied: “Hopefully.”
The video also showed the work still under way to prepare the café for its opening, with Bartholomew explaining the business would work closely with the couple’s guesthouse.
“As you can see, a bit of work to do but this is kind of the beginning of Saltash Farm, because everything we make over there ends up in here as well,” she said.
Writing about the project in her Country Life column, Bartholomew said the couple were “a bit mad” to take on such ambitious projects but believed it would benefit the local community.
“We know it’s not possible to build a project like our hotel in isolation. It only works if it’s built with and for the community that it sits within,” she wrote.
“The town’s shops need to thrive, and the main street needs buzz. People need a reason to turn off the highway, and sometimes a good coffee and a sandwich is a good start.”
The couple bought Saltash Farm for just over $1 million in 2023 and received approval in September 2024 to begin converting the property into a luxury rural retreat.
At the time, Bartholomew said they were determined to continue with the project despite being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
“We are forging ahead with this incredible project despite this health setback,” she said.
“I adore being in the country. It will be lovely to have a bit more time with family to enjoy life at a slower pace.”
She also said working on the project had helped keep her focused during treatment.
“This is a condition I will manage and live with. Our renovation has been a beautiful distraction and will continue to be in the months to come,” she said.
Image: Instagram
