Syrian café The Olive Branch still serves Wivenhoe from Station Road Subhead: Independent Middle Eastern vegetarian and mainly vegan food near the station, with a food hygiene rating of 5 and roots dating to late 2016
Just down from Wivenhoe station, The Olive Branch occupies 1a Station Road (CO7 9DH) as an independent Syrian café focused on vegetarian and mainly vegan Middle Eastern food. The trading company behind it is THE OLIVES BRANCH LIMITED (Companies House 10002445), incorporated on 12 February 2016 and listed as Active, with SIC code 56102 for unlicensed restaurants and cafés.
Founders Abdul Kattan and Fatema Kawaf (Dr Kawaf) are from Syria. According to reporting in the East Anglian Daily Times at launch, Dr Kawaf studied and later lectured at the University of Essex; the couple settled in Wivenhoe after conflict prevented a return home. The café opened to the public around 29 December 2016.
The menu, as described on the business’s own site and in later coverage, centres on platters, wraps and dips such as hummus and baba ganouj, alongside falafel, baklava, soft drinks and traditional teas. The café presents itself as Syrian vegan food, with children’s meals available and dietary adaptations including gluten-free panini. It also states that it cannot guarantee any dish is completely nut-free — a practical point for allergy-aware diners.
Beyond sit-down meals, the business offers takeaway, event catering, prearranged delivery, private hire and pop-ups. Bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) arrangements are part of that offer. An Essex Live review published on 16 March 2023 described an open kitchen, Monmouth coffee, platters and wraps, and noted event hire and BYOB parties. The café’s own site has claimed a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2020.
On food safety, the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme lists The Olive Branch under FHRS ID 1586728. Following an inspection on 27 February 2025, it holds a rating of 5 (Very Good).
Opening hours are not set out here: they have varied in secondary listings and should be checked directly with the café before travelling. For Colchester-area readers looking for plant-forward Middle Eastern cooking within a short train ride of the town, Station Road remains the fixed address to note.
In short, The Olive Branch is a long-running independent café with a clear dietary offer, documented company status, a top hygiene rating from early 2025, and a founding story tied to Wivenhoe and the University of Essex, useful facts for anyone planning a visit or booking catering rather than relying on second-hand rumour.
