An agent has embarked on an unexpected new venture after acquiring a travel agency that also operates as a coffee shop.
Pebbles Travel founder Martine MacDonald, who has worked in travel for the past 34 years, was previously manager of Norad Travel's shop in Chippenham, formerly Talma Travel.
“Norad wanted to move the agency elsewhere, and I was made redundant because I was unwilling to relocate with my young son,” Martine told TTG. “The staff decided to stay with me, so I took over the lease and started Pebbles Travel. And here we are, nearly 11 years later.”
However, it was in early 2025 that Martine came across Travelwise, an agency situated inside a Grade II listed building in Devizes.
She was intrigued by the agency itself, but was most struck by its complementary coffee shop – Coffeewise. “I immediately recognised its potential,” she said.
The previous owner leaned into a monochromatic look (Credit: Martine MacDonald)
Travelwise had been running for 30 years, but was far removed from Martine’s vision of a “cosy” and cohesive dual business. “It was shocking – just a dark, dingy space,” said Martine. “I knew it needed some love, and quite a bit of maintenance.”
The former owner had initially designed Travelwise as a front-of-house agency with coffee as a secondary source of revenue, but was forced to pivot when Covid hit.
“She lost a lot of travel business and threw herself into coffee, which meant the agency was moved to the back of the shop,” Martine explained. “But then, once things got back to normal, people didn’t really understand Coffeewise was actually a travel agency.”
Martine thought the previous décor looked too "dark and dingy" (Credit: Martine MacDonald)
Martine and husband Andy acquired the business in April 2025, which has since been rebranded Pebbles Travel and Pebbles Coffee. The transition was a quiet one, with the pair operating the businesses as normal while they planned for a proper relaunch.
“We needed to find our feet and figure out what the town wanted,” she said. “We also didn’t want to risk upsetting any regulars.”
The general sentiment from customers was that it needed a facelift and more staff, so the pair quickly got to work. “We knocked a few walls down, installed a brand-new coffee machine, some new decor and extended the back room, which gave us more seating,” Martine explained.
The agency has since had a facelift (Credit: Martine MacDonald)
The result, said Martine, is a “quirky” and “cosy" space puts travel front and centre. The backroom is dedicated to the US and Canada, with themed brochure racks and pictures, while the coffee shop sells “cakes of the month” oriented around a specific country.
“Last month was Pavlova for Australia,” Martine said. “We also did a Florida-themed key lime pie. The customers love it, and keep coming in to ask what the next special will be.”
Pebbles Travel also has a courtyard out front, with an Indian bean tree as its attention-grabbing centrepiece. “In the summer months, people sit and chat outside, and when the weather’s good it feels like you’re on a little holiday,” she added.
From IT to chai teas
The solution to Pebbles' staffing problem was more unconventional. “My husband worked in IT, and had been made redundant last year,” said Martine. “After 34 years, he decided he was done with that business, and would run the coffee shop for me.”
Andy is now fully barista-trained, having worked under some local businesses, and is responsible for managing rotas and serving customers. “He’s absolutely loving it, although it became an obsession in the beginning,” Martine laughed. “He was sat at home watching videos about how to froth milk!”
The agency has outdoor seating underneath its Indian bean tree (Credit: Martine MacDonald)
Martine told TTG the response from the local community has so far been “wonderful”. “They’ve welcomed us with open arms, I think because we’re friendly, family faces,” Martine said. “And apparently, we sell the best coffee in town.”
The business has also benefitted from a lack of competition. Martine explained Devizes has only one other agency in town, and Pebbles’ status as an independent business meant everyone was “really keen” to support the coffee side too.
Investment in the community has also paid dividends for Martine’s business. “The space is used for book clubs and Zumba classes, and we even hosted a wreath-making workshop at the beginning of December,” Martine enthused. “People love it.”
The interiors have been completely overhaul to suit a "cosy" aesthetic (Credit: Martine MacDonald)
The two businesses are thriving side by side, with Martine doubling their client base in nine months, while the coffee shop “flies” under her husband's management.
“Before we took over, there was a real split between the ‘coffee customers’ and the ‘travel customers’,” said Martine. “There’s more brand awareness now that we’ve refurbished the place, and the coffee customers are coming in saying, ‘I didn’t realise I could book a holiday here!'"
Next step – river cruise
Martine’s 2026 plans involve developing the agency’s events portfolio following a successful networking event held in collaboration with select travel suppliers. “We’ve now been approached by some river cruise companies because they want to use the space,” she explained. “So that’s definitely the next step for us, business-wise.”
However, Martine’s first priority is developing the connections made since starting her new venture. “We’ve had people come in with cakes they’ve baked, and bottles of wine, to thank us for the work we’ve done,” said Martine. “That means the world to Andy and I, and that’s what we want to bring into next year."
