Foodie twins to banish new year bingeing with healthy Hanwell café

Twins Chloe and Charlotte Bassaragh, 27, opened The Twins Healthy Habitat last September at the top of Drayton Bridge Road, and business has been booming ever since.

The friendly café, which looks like it might belong in Covent Garden, serves mix-n-match salads, wraps and sandwiches, healthy cakes, hot drinks, fresh juices and smoothies.

It’s situated between multiple schools – with Drayton Manor High School on the same road, and Hobbayne Primary School just around the corner – meaning the café is often filled with students on lunch breaks and after school.

“We get lots of parents coming in after school, because their children want a smoothie or fresh juice as an afternoon treat, instead of sweets,” Charlotte said.

“It’s lovely to see, because we are so passionate about healthy food and teaching children about being healthy from a young age.”

Sixth formers from Drayton flock in due to their £4 meal deal, which includes a drink and a wrap, bagel or sandwich.

One student told the sisters that she no longer had to get the bus to Ealing Broadway during her lunch breaks to get something healthy.

Both sisters have young children themselves – Chloe is mum to seven-year-old Ava and three-year-old Tate, while Charlotte has seven-year-old Amelia and is seven months pregnant.

The girls are incredibly close – they both studied Live Music Events Management at City University, and they were even pregnant with their daughters at the same time.

“We love working together,” said Chloe.

“It just feels normal for us – we’ve always done everything together.”

Both self-taught cooks, the sisters share a passion for cooking and love experimenting and trying new flavours.

They are inspired by the travels they have been on together – especially Ibiza – and coming from a multi-cultural family, with Jamaican, Irish and Spanish influences.   

Beside a good full English and some fast food, up until now there has been very little variety on the Greenford Avenue, and the Bassaraghs are happy to fill the gap.

“We’ve always lived round here and we knew it needed a bit of a change,” said Chloe.

They’re set to expand their already appetizing menu as they’re waiting on their hot food licence. 

“We really want to sell soups, stews and rice pots,” Charlotte said.

“I think people will love that.”

Regular customer Gail Filer said: “The twins have got me hooked on quinoa, which I never liked before.

“Everything they make is delicious – I thought I would hate fruit in salad but they put mango in one of theirs, and it’s amazing.”

Charlotte and Chloe will also be showcasing their cooking skills to a wider audience than Hanwell next March, as they have participated in ITV’s The Chopping Block with Rosemary Shrager and John Whaite.

Map in infographic courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks