Five new jobs have been created at a new healthy eating cafe and takeaway that has thrown open its doors in Keswick.
Paul and Ashleigh McGee, who run The Hungry Caterpillar chain, had a “soft opening” of their new outlet in Packhorse Court to coincide with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.
Their first full day of business was Saturday.
The couple had planned to open a cafe in Keswick earlier this year but had to focus their attentions on a new town centre outlet in Workington and there were delays in securing the premises. Ashleigh also had a baby in May.
Since starting the business five years ago, it has snowballed and the couple now run outlets in Whitehaven and Cockermouth and after Christmas plan to open a takeaway cafe in Maryport.
“Keswick is the one that we have been hoping to open for ages,” said Ashleigh. “We have been looking at it for a while and then this opportunity came up in Packhorse Court.
“There have been a couple of businesses leave since we signed up but its getting back to normal now. It’s a nice little place and looks really nice with all the Christmas lights up.
“We will create about five new jobs but like a lot of businesses in Keswick at the moment we are struggling to get staff. “
The business, which is opening in the unit in Packhorse Court once occupied by Evergreens, caters predominately for takeaways but there will be space for up to 25 covers for those eating in.
There will be wraps, bagels and potatoes and a lunch bowl which allows people to customise their meal by choosing what foods they want to put in it.
Ashleigh said it would be ideal for people with food allergies, vegetarians or vegans, as it sought to cater for everybody.
