THE owners of a Middlewich eaterie which reopened last week are celebrating its fifth anniversary.

Partners Holly and Gemma Crocker first opened the Wheelock Street based Drinks and Bites at 35, in January 2013 and since then it has developed into the must-go eaterie destination in town.

The premises was reopened last week after the building underwent a £15,000 refurbishment which will also include a new menu to cater for most diets including meat eaters, vegetarians, vegan diets along with special dietary requirements.

The couple once ran a smaller cafe at Northwich Railway Station before fully switching their attention to developing their Middlewich owned business.

The couple's success come against a backdrop of the town's High Street businesses closing down.

"There are a number of reasons for our success," Holly said, "including the fact that the premises is in a high street location but there is also a good community feel and it takes time to feel part of it.

"It's also a much bigger premises than the one we had in Northwich and we do so many more things including doing full breakfasts, takeaway coffees and sandwiches.

"Middlewich is not swanky like Knutsford and it's not got a great big high street but we do have our customers who are out running errands who will pop in for a coffee or for a breakfast."

Equally there is no doubting the couple's commitment on Facebook and other social media where feedback on their friendliness, quality of food and first class service means that people just keep on coming back.

Holly adds: "After five years we consider many of our customers our friends and we believe that creating a warm and russet feel will make our premises even warmer and more welcoming to those who happen to call.

"It's a friendly place to come to and that is why we are investing what is a large amount of money into making our business still better."