Lancaster's famous coffee roasters are set to open a new 'hidden' venue and restaurant in the city centre.
Atkinsons are almost ready to unveil the Upper Priory Hall - an exciting new space for gigs, functions and conferences as well as fine dining and even baking!
Opening on April 24, the new venue is a former parish hall on China Street.
Owner Ian Steel described it as a "secret room" discovered above Atkinsons' cafe The Hall, next door to their iconic coffee and tea merchants shop.
The upper floor of The Hall was blocked off and disused for years, until Atkinsons bought the building recently.
"It's a secret hall, on top of the other one, boarded up in the ceiling for 80 years or so," said Mr Steel.
LISTEN to Ian Steel talking about the new venue
"We knocked through the ceiling, (above) this strange staircase to nowhere, and we arrived at the top of the building which is another beautiful hall space, which is going to be great as a venue whether it's for weddings, gatherings, gigs, all sorts of things.
Here is Ian with the 'secret staircase' which was blocked off for years, and leads to the new venue
"It's there, in the centre of Lancaster. It's a completely hidden space.
"We've also got two lovely little function rooms and a kitchen.
"So we've got tenants in there who are going to be producing small plates, fine dining, top-notch pop-up guest chefs.
"It's going to be called 'Marra' because that's Cumbrian for 'mates'."
Marra will be a pop-up restaurant opening on the last weekend of every month, celebrating local produce and hosting a different chef from across the UK.
The first event will feature food from Halton chef Leci Davers, from April 24 to 26. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
The new space will also be home to Lancaster's first foccacia bakery.
The foccaceria will be run by artisan bread maker Abi Hampsey, who will bake Italian bread on the premises.
Mr Steel said capacity inside the venue will be around 200 standing, with 16 in each dining area.
J Atkinson & Co is a speciality coffee roasters and tea merchants dedicated to sourcing, roasting and brewing some of the highest quality coffees from around the world since 1837.
Here is Ian with the coffee roaster!
Visitors come from far and wide to their famous shop on China Street in Lancaster.
The Hall cafe is next door to the shop, and Atkinsons also have cafes inside the Lancaster Castle courtyard and at The Music Room in Sun Square.
Work will now be continuing over the next few weeks to get the Upper Priory Hall ready for its launch.
"It's unique, I think people are going to love it," said Mr Steel.
"Once we open it to the public it might morph into a completely different thing!
"It's a great blank canvas. Very exciting!
"I want people to see it as another iconic building to match the other buildings we've got - a 1730s pavilion in The Music Room, a 1830s shop and now a 1930s parish hall."
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