Accrington woman left Costa to open Jo's Vintage Coffee Bar

Joanne Aspden is set to open Jo's Vintage Coffee Bar in the Accrington Arndale shopping centre from today (February 14).

Friday will be a soft opening, from 10am, and the ‘grand opening’ will be held on Saturday.

Joanne said she left her job at Costa, where she worked for 14 years, to open the business.

She said this has been a dream of hers for around four years to run her own cafe.

Inside Jo's Vintage Coffee Bar in the Accrington Arndale (Image: Joanne Aspden) Joanne will use her experience as a barista and store manager to help the coffee shop thrive.

She said: “I just finished working for Costa in December.

"I worked with them for 14 years but I started losing love for the job and the brand.

“People asked me over the years why I didn’t open my own until I asked myself what was stopping me.

Inside Jo's Vintage Coffee Bar in the Accrington Arndale (Image: Joanne Aspden) “It happened quicker than I expected and thought I would get it later in the year.”

Joanne will use her experience as a barista and store manager to help the coffee shop thrive.

Far from your standard coffee shop, a unique aspect of this business is its quirky appearance.

It will be filled with vintage and pre-loved décor including a grandfather clock and teapots.

Inside Jo's Vintage Coffee Bar in the Accrington Arndale (Image: Joanne Aspden)

Joanne said: “With the décor, I have tried to get everything local, pre-loved, pre-owned and upcycled.

“I have tried to source older looking materials, including cups, grandfather clocks, saucers, and teapots to keep things quirky and so things are mismatched.

"We were inspired by the coffee shop in [American TV series] Friends.”

Cakes, coffees, hot chocolates and teas will be available. Sweet treats, crisps, toast, tea cakes, crumpets, croissants, and even boxes of cereal for kids, are on the menu.

Several businesses have closed at the shopping centre in recent years. The most recent closure announcement was WHSmith, which is set to close in March.

Joanne hopes the coffee shop can help improve footfall at the centre.

She said: “We are hoping that seeing a business open in the Arndale will promote more footfall into the Arndale and entice other small businesses and shops into the empty shops.

“I am excited although currently the stress has overtaken the excitement while I get the shop ready – but I am looking forward to opening day.”