Owner's call for customers gives coffee shop boost

A COFFEE shop owner who was on the brink of “calling it day” says he has been overwhelmed by the response to his plea for more customers.

- TOM KEIGHLEY

Matt Slater, who runs No Fret in Whitley Bay, took to social media earlier this week to lament a lack of trade over recent weeks which he said had put the business on the cusp of closure.

The businessman said he had hoped the Easter holidays would spur a turnaround in takings but that did not materialise and that the business was not covering its outgoings.

Having encouraged the coastal community to support the coffee house, he says there has been an “amazing” response, with more than 200,000 people seeing the plea and scores of customers turning up at the South Parade venue for its coffees, teas, and food.

He now hopes to sustain the boosted trade so he can bridge the gap as building work slowly brings back the nearby former Rex Hotel back into use as a care home.