Cafe owner retires after raising £60k for charity

A Jersey cafe owner is retiring after raising more than £60,000 for charity over two decades.

Rhona Hewit, owner of Rhona's on the Beach, said 2025 had been her most successful year yet, after raising £10,000 for Enable Jersey over the past 12 months.

She chooses one charity to donate to each year through proceeds from her fish finger sandwiches and hand-crafted creations.

Ms Hewit said she had been in talks with prospective buyers of her cafe and hoped a like-minded new owner would continue to serve the community.

Ms Hewit, who has owned the cafe for 20 years, said: "The generosity, kindness, and support from islanders has been overwhelming, and raising £10,000 for Enable feels like the perfect way to close this chapter.

"I've loved every minute - every customer, every stormy morning, every sunny lunchtime rush."

She added it had been a privilege to serve the community and she was retiring with a "full heart" and the "happiest memories".

Enable Jersey said it celebrated Ms Hewit's 20th anniversary and charity work with a beach party in the summer.

CEO of the charity, Sean Pontin, said it "didn't come close to showing how much she means to this island".

He added: "Rhona's generosity, positivity and sheer determination inspire everyone around her.

"While we'll all miss seeing her at the hatch every day, she more than deserves to retire on a high. Her legacy will be felt across Jersey for years to come."

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