The son of a Hucknall butcher is set to open his own café in the town tomorrow (Monday 24 January).

Mitchell Cassidy's business Cassidy's Kitchen on Watnall Road will be open its doors for the first time officially at 7am on Monday.

Mr Cassidy is the son of Chris and Lorraine who own C.Cassidy and Sons family butchers which is also on Watnall Road.

Mitchell has worked at his family's butchers since he was a teenager and used to help run the hot food counter.

When the Coronavirus pandemic reached the UK and the first lockdown was enforced in March 2020, only two members of staff were allowed to work in the shop at once.

This led to the hot food counter side of the business coming to an end and Mitchell deciding to find alternative work as a courier.

However, his intention was always to open his own shop and recreate the hot food counter side of the business in a separate premises. He has renovated and moved into the old Ladbrokes betting shop next door to Watnall Road Car Centre.

"I know exactly how this kind of shop needs to be run so I thought I may as well just give it a whirl. I spoke to my Dad about it, and he obviously backed me all the way, thought it would be a good idea and a lot of people said the same. I think a lot of people know me from over the years, I've always said if I had an ideal dream, it'd probably be this."

All of the meat served in the café will be supplied by Cassidy's. The menu will include an all day breakfast, a range of cold meats, burgers including a vegan option and a salad bar.

Asked what makes the meat stocked by Cassidy's so good, Mitchell said: "It's about as local as it gets. All my Dad's products are all brought in from farms really close by as close as Papplewick and Linby.

"Obviously, Dad's had that experience where he's had the shop for over 30 years, there's not that many businesses around Hucknall that have lasted that long.

"There's no other way I was going to open this without my Dad. People that don't go to my Dad's shop who come in here for the first time who won't even recognise the name at all will probably start recognising the food we're selling in here is clearly quite local and obviously we'll be advertising that there's a butchers down the road called Cassidy's as well."

In the café, there are a few seats and Mr Cassidy explained that whilst he still thinks a lot of his trade will be people looking to grab refreshments on the move, he hopes that having a seated area will encourage some people to eat in.

"I wanted to keep that dynamic where people can come in, walk out, builders, passers by but I wanted to have that option to sit in, have a coffee. I've tried to keep what my Dad was successful at but have that little bit extra."

Of his feelings ahead of Monday's opening he added: "I'm looking forward to Monday, ever so slightly nervous but excited more than anything. I can't wait to be open and see what people think of it."

For more information about Cassidy's Kitchen, visit their Facebook page here.