Taste of Italy for new coffee house

9:18am Saturday 4th November 2006

A SUPER-CHARGED cappuccino was on offer at a new coffee house in Swindon.

Passing shoppers gaped at the sight of a red Ferrari 360 Modena outside The Italian Coffee Company in the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre.

The caf opened its doors for the first time yesterday and the eye-catching stunt was the idea of director Mark Ellis.

The-30-year-old said: "We heard about a company called Iconic in Bristol that loan super cars for the day."

The firm has been in existence for four years but has only now settled in Swindon.

Mr Ellis said: "We have worked at Ascot, Twickenham and Lords, so we have a good deal of experience."

The coffee bean company Lavazza, based in Turin, trains Mark's staff, so an authentic Italian taste should be on offer.

He said: "I work with my mother Rose.

"We don't have a family connection with Italy, but we do love the food and want to recreate that as much as possible for visitors to the Outlet Centre."

"We had a great response on our first day and hopefully there will be more openings like this in the future."