Bernice Marie Newton and inside the new Friargate coffee shop

A new coffee shop is due to open in Preston city centre to replace another.

Fanakis in Friargate, which closed, is to become Town House Coffee and Brew Bar.

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Bernice Marie Newton is behind the new coffee bar bringing more than 10 years experience in the hospitality trade to her first venture.

The 28-year-old has recently finished spending the year getting Cedarwood Coffee in Winckley Street established.

She says she’s excited by the changes happening down Friargate and feels the time is right for a new coffee shop.

Bernice, from Walton Park, said: “There’s a lot happening around here with the work UCLan is doing and the new flats going up too. I think it’s the perfect time to get this up and running.

“We’re going to be focusing on bringing in artisan coffee from Origins Coffee which is just fantastic. There’ll also be a big focus on local produce.

“I want to have a small food menu to start with but it’ll expand, and it’s locally sourced. For example the eggs are coming from Garstang where there’s a rescue for battery hens, and now they get a new start in life and the eggs are brilliant.”

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Work on the cafe is underway and Bernice said it’d a family affair to give it a makeover.

Family and friends have been mucking in to help with the new coffee shop

She said: “We’re making some changes to the way its set up, and I want to make good use of the upstairs space. Lots of family members are helping with the work to do the place up, even by 74-year-old Nan is getting involved.

“That’s what I want from Town House is to have a real family and community feel to it.

“We’re also going to be hosting events and I’m keen to hear from anyone who wants to put on events for the community. We have space upstairs and I reckon we can fit about 30 people seated in for the venue.”

Related: Friargate Court coffee shop gets swirl of approval

Where the cafe will be in Friargate

No official opening date has been set for the cafe but Bernice said she hopes to be open in late May or early June depending how the work is progressing. Three jobs are due to be created by the new coffee shop opening. You can follow the progress on the building work via the cafe Facebook page.

Did you ever visit Fanakis? Will you be visiting Town House? Let us know in the comments below