New lease of life for Old Town Cafe (From This Is Wiltshire)

AN ENTERPRISING couple behind an Old Town ice cream parlour are to open a traditional café in an empty unit next door.

Dan and Hadi Brooks, who opened Ray’s just over a year ago, are redecorating the former Old Town Café and adding their own touch.

The previous owners moved on to follow new pursuits in July after 14 years of cooked breakfasts and friendly conversation.

The Brooks will add a new look to the diner, which they have called The Café, and open it seven days a week. It will run side-by-side with Ray’s, with Dan concentrating on the ice cream parlour.

Hadi, 35, said: “It’s going to be a traditional British café for all budgets.

“We are going to have the full English breakfasts but we will also have croissants, tea cakes and lunches which will include everything from fish and chips and a mega-burger to toasted sandwiches and jacket potatoes.

“We’ll be using fresh food with good ingredients and will make everyone feel welcome, whether they be council contractors or mums with pushchairs.”

The couple, who have been hard at work at the corner stop on Devizes Road, also want to continue the previous café’s success in winning awards for its breakfasts and building a loyal customer base.

Hadi said: “We have redecorated everything from the floor up and fitted a new kitchen.

“It’s hard work and a little bit scary, but exciting at the same time. When all the hard work is finished it should be amazing.”

The stretch of Devizes Road next to Wood Street welcomed another new business two weeks ago with the opening of the Hop Inn, a pub specialising in real ale.

Jamie’s Italian Diner is also rumoured to be interested in opening up a few doors along.

Hadi said: “There are things happening on this street.

“If we think back before we opened Ray’s there were quite a lot of empty units and now it is filling up.

“It would just be lovely to have someone open up in one of the empty shops opposite us.”

The café is due to open at the end of the month.