The family of a much-loved and popular café owner on Penarth Pier has paid tribute to her as their "sunshine, light and love" following her death aged 61. Nicola Sullivan, who ran Nicola's Juice and Coffee Bar on the pier for nearly 15 years, died peacefully on August 22 after battling an illness for years.
The mum-of-two was integral to the community of Penarth where she had lived her whole life. She went to Stanwell High School, played hockey for The Penarth Ladies, and frequented her local pub Old Penarthians RFC. She was inspired to open her own juice bar after she saw someone carrying fresh orange juice in a shopping centre in Cardiff and realised that there was a gap in the market in her hometown. She started her shop from a unit on the pier before eventually expanding to hot drinks and food as well.
What began as a temporary six-month contract turned into the long-standing venture at the heart of the community. Her daughter Carys Kimish, 30, said: "She loved it down there. She loved all the customers and all the people she met. She just always had a smile on her face down there.
Read more: 25 fascinating photos of Penarth and Sully from over the decades
"Kids called her 'Mummy Nicky'. She always gave lollies out to the kids and if it was anyone's birthday she would always give out her bara brith. She made the best bara brith in the world. She was just so kind and just really lovely."
She continued: "She always had a deal on the Welsh cakes when she first started. It was four for a £1. She wasn't there to make big bucks – she was there because she loved it down there and she loved chatting to people, making them teas and coffees, catching up and making real friends."
"She was down there rain or shine – she went every day. In the rain she served hot soup for the fisherman. In the summer she was there with the juices and the smoothies. She worked seven days a week."
Carys and her older sister Bethan helped out with their mum's business – first at weekends during their high school years and then during summers back from university. "It was a proper little family business. We were always there helping mum out on busy days or when it was at the Penarth Festival. She said: 'All hands on deck!' when we were there together. It was always so much fun. We had so many good times down there with her."
The last few years were tough for Ms Sullivan both with Covid and her illness, which forced her to close her business on and off. She officially closed the café last year after her conditioned deteriorated but continued to help her family despite this. Carys said her family was "devastated" by her passing.
"She was sunshine and light and love in our family. She loved us all so much and she loved her grandchildren so much. Even when she was ill at the end she was still helping out with her elderly mother who is 96. She was helping everyone until she couldn't anymore."
Speaking about the impact her death has had on the community, Carys added: "Everyone who I've seen or who have reached out have all said how many happy memories they have and how lovely she was and how the pier in Penarth won't be the same without her. She will be truly missed."
Nicola is survived by her two daughters, Carys and Bethan, her two grandchildren, her mother, and her brother. A celebration of her life will take place on September 9 at Cardiff and Glamorgan Crematorium in Barry at 2pm.
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