A popular coffee shop in Yate has celebrated its first birthday in the area.

Esquires Coffee, based in the Riverside Complex of Yate Shopping Centre, has seen itself rise to the very top of similar shops in the town since its opening in October of 2017.

To celebrate, the staff at the shop placed ‘Happy Birthday’ balloons and banners around the building and also offered a special deal to some lucky customers.

The first 15 people who attended the coffee shop got a free muffin decorated with a 1st birthday topping.

Esquires is usually frequented by people in the mornings, however its wide selection of food have made it busy throughout the day.

Dean Widge, the franchise owner, revealed how happy he was that the team had turned around some of the negative criticism around and made it number one on Tripadvisor.

“There was some negativity when it was said the building was going to be another coffee shop, but it is testament to the team that we have now turned that criticism around,” he said.

“I really enjoy the coffee shop culture, and didn’t want to follow other big names.

“We focus on sourcing our coffee and food ethically, whilst also ensuring that it is quality.

There have also been some steps taken by the store to support charities and other organisations in the area.

“We did a fundraiser for Willow Tree Care, whilst also donating 69 kilos to the Yate and Sodbury Foodbank,” Dean continued.

“We enjoy speaking to customers and hearing feedback, mainly though we want to continue providing a good service in the community.”

Esquires manager, Alec Taylor, recently joined the shop. However he has stated that the collective make the business a success.

“The team are great,” he said.

“We have some of the best baristas in the area and I think the service they provide is second to none.

“If you haven’t been yet then you need to come and try us out.

“We don’t only do coffee, there’s a lot of things, including a great range of gluten free options, so come and see for yourselves.”

The meteoric rise has seen the shop become top rated in the area on Tripadvisor.