Two Pines Café is Brewing Community at Glencorse Centre
A new café has opened its doors at the Glencorse Centre in Auchendinny, and it’s more than just a place to grab great coffee. Two Pines is a shining example of how community spirit, social enterprise, and private business can come together to create something truly special.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
When Chris and Tessa, two long-time coffee lovers with a background in the third sector, set out to open a café, they weren’t just looking for premises, they were looking for purpose. Through a chance connection with the team at Rafiki Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and supplier based in Edinburgh, and their chef Pam, they discovered the available space at Glencorse Centre. The synergy was immediate.
From the outset, the vision for Two Pines aligned perfectly with that of Glencorse Centre: a shared commitment to community, sustainability, and inclusion. What began as a conversation soon became a collaboration, not a rental agreement, but a real partnership.
“We wanted to create something that was rooted in the community, not just a business, but an inclusive space that people can be part of” says Tessa.
More Than a Café
Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 9am to 5pm, Two Pines serves high-quality, locally sourced food, Rafiki coffee, and delicious home-baked cakes. Ingredients are as local as it gets including herbs, produce, and salad leaves harvested from the Glencorse Community Garden.
The space itself has been lovingly renovated with sustainability in mind. Tables, counters, and bookshelves are crafted from reclaimed wood, and the café’s design is warm, accessible, and welcoming to all, including dogs, children, and muddy boots fresh from a local walk.
But Two Pines is about more than just food and drink. The café is actively involved in providing catering for centre events, hosting community groups, and training local young people in barista skills, creating jobs, experiences, and opportunities.
Strengthening Community Connections
Chris & Tessa from Two Pines with Kate & Azim from Glencorse Centre
For Glencorse Centre, Two Pines has become a catalyst for change. Long seen as a great resource, the centre has been keen to connect with its immediate community as much as possible. The café has helped just that, bringing in new faces, bridging the gap between new residents and long-time locals, and helping embed the centre at the heart of the community.
“This isn’t just a café, it’s a community centre with a café that’s creating a real community hub. It’s what we hoped for and more,” says Kate Williamson Centre Coordinator at Glencorse Centre.
Already, the centre has introduced food truck Fridays, farmers markets, fun days, and crafting shelves where local makers can display and sell their products, and there are plans for more community-led initiatives in the pipeline.
What’s in a Name?
The name Two Pines is inspired by a simple but powerful idea: Alone, a pine tree can’t survive a storm. Together, they shelter, share, and grow strong. The name nods to Chris’s grandfather, who was involved in research at Bush Estate in Roslin, and Auchendinny’s paper-making history. It’s a symbol of resilience, nature, and connection, exactly what Two Pines are creating.
Glencorse Centre Community Benefits Ask
Glencorse Centre is home to numerous groups, classes and events that focus on bringing the community together. To help them continue to achieve this fantastic work, they are looking for some support to help make the centre, garden and outdoor spaces as welcoming as possible.
They are currently looking for some help with drainage on their football pitches to ensure goals can continue to be scored. If this is something you or your business could help with, please get in touch with Kate Williamson today via enquiries@glencorseassociation.org.uk.
Visit Two Pines Today
Whether you’re stopping by after a local walk, meeting a friend for lunch, or discovering the centre for the first time, Two Pines offers more than coffee. It offers a sense of belonging.
