A GROUP of volunteers have set up a new pop-up coffee shop in Bowerhill, providing barista-style drinks without the need to travel to Melksham.

Fronted by organiser Chris Sealy and seven other volunteers from the Core Church, Coffee on the Way will be setting up at Bowerhill Village Hall in Halifax Road on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of the month. During its first day on Wednesday (January 18) the team welcomed over 50 people through the doors for a hot cuppa.

Mr Sealy, 64, of Pembroke Road, Melksham, said: “The Core Church meets every Sunday at Bowerhill Primary School and we decided we wanted a place in the community where people could meet and relax with a cup of coffee. Our long term plan vision is to have somewhere where we could do it five or six days a week, but locating a property can be difficult.”

Sourcing their coffee from a Fairtrade seller, Coffee on the Way also supports local businesses by buying cakes from Newman’s in Melksham.

“Although Newman’s is a butcher we get our cakes through them. At Christmases we get our meat from them for the meal we provide for the community, the cakes are more like a business arrangement,” added Mr Sealy.

“We did paninis, soup and bread rolls and also jacket potatoes, but it will change. We had 11 lunches and up to 50 people in for coffee. We aren’t doing it for profit, any money that is made will be going back into the running of the coffee shop.”

The next pop-up coffee shop opening will be taking place at the village hall on February 1 from 8.30am-4pm.