My café closed after 12 years - I turned the heartbreak into a song

When Leeds café Mrs Atha's closed its doors for the last time in April, founder J. Warren Jones turned back to music for solace amid the heartbreak.

- by Dennis Morton

Having spent 12 years trading in Central Street in the city centre, the Leeds-born musician and father-of-three faced an abrupt change - channelling both pain and hope into his new single, Daylight Robbery.

Mrs Atha's was a cherished community hub where thousands found comfort - a sentiment echoed by the many who shared their deep affection for the shop.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Warren said the song's lyrics capture both loss and pride, emerging as a form of self-healing.

"On the last day of the shop, so many people were in tears, holding me," he said. "And I'm talking about grown men... the shop meant so much to so many different people, for so many different reasons."

Composed in a single, cathartic 15-minute burst,

Daylight Robbery conveys Warren's raw emotions and the unwavering support of the Mrs Atha's community.