A NEW cafe opens has opened after being converted from a former coach house.

Coast Coffee House opened in Royal Mews, Southend, 18 months after work began on the building, which once served as a coach house for what is nowHamiltons Boutique hotel, in Royal Terrace.

Owner Rachel Ural previously worked at Hamiltons with her father, John Slowley, who is now selling the business.

She said: “I’ve been working with dad for five years now, but he wants to retire now.

“I didn’t want to carry on running the hotel, as it’s a bit of a 24-hour job, so he’s helped me make my dreams come true.

“It’s taken about 18 months to convert the coach house and it’s definitely been a labour of love, with a few headaches.”

As part of the restructuring of the building, the first floor which once contained hay bales was taken out, and a conservatory extension installed at the back of the building.

A pre-opening event was held at the cafe, attended by Southend mayor Andrew Moring.

Mr Moring will also be officially opening the borough’s newest Costa Coffee branch in Thorpe Bay Broadway at 10am on Saturday, a week after it served its first lattes and cappuccinos.

In March, Southend Council announced Costa was signing a lease on the shop unit next to the Pier Hill lifts, which was created as part of a £6million redevelopment in 2004, but has stood unused ever since.

There are also Costa branches on the High Street, the Royals Shopping Centre, Southend Hospital and Leigh Broadway.