AFTER a year of trading as Cookes Coffee and Curios at Brunel Mall in Stroud the unique café now has a new owner and a new name.

Bus driver Andy Frusher has taken on the running of the coffee shop, which he has renamed Magdalene Cottage, as a way of preventing the much-loved café from closing.

“The previous owners Sam and Mark had opened another café in Gloucester and were planning to close their Stroud branch and I didn’t want that to happen so I volunteered to take it on and keep it open,” said Andy (pictured).

“I’ve never done anything like this before but I thought it was a special place for people in Stroud who wanted a place where they could come and put their feet up and enjoy a coffee without being disturbed.”

The café in the Brunel Mall, off London Road, will still keep its unique persona – selling everything from jewellery, antiques, crafts, gift ideas, paintings and clocks as well as a variety of coffee and homemade cakes made by Andy’s mum Diana Davis.

It will also continue to act as a collection point for Stroudco Food Hub and spiritual medium Paul Langford will remain at the café for tarot card and clairvoyance readings.