We aim to serve up 'the best Sunday lunch for miles' as we take over Whitburn landmark

“Our approach at the Village Café will be quality over quantity. The menu will be relatively small but one thing we do want to introduce is the best Sunday lunch for miles around,” say the new owners of a Whitburn favourite.

Last month we revealed how Richard and Dominic Ord, of Colmans fish and chips fame, had taken over The Village Cafe in the heart of Whitburn Village.

Now, the brothers have revealed more on the site as they met with the previous owners to get the keys to the long-running cafe.

The cafe, which has been in the village since 1972, will be keeping its name but will be undergoing a major refurbishment and a new menu.

Dom said: “We’re going to be serving up great breakfast, brunch and lunch to the people of Whitburn.

“As usual we’ll be focusing on high quality, local produce. We’ll be tapping into as many local suppliers as we can and looking to showcase the work they do.

“Our approach at the Village Café will be quality over quantity. The menu will be relatively small but one thing we do want to introduce is the best Sunday lunch for miles around.

“On the other side of the coin we’ll be serving great coffee. If our customers simply want to enjoy a cuppa and a chat then we’re here for that too.”

Plans are also in place to maximise the potential of the café’s outdoor area and secure an alcohol licence to complement occasional evening service.

“There’s a case for serving some great British plates over the weekend, perhaps accompanied by a glass of wine,” adds Richard.

“It’s a lovely place to sit and relax and enjoy some casual dining.”

But will the Village Café serve Colmans’ world-renowned fish and chips?

“The nation’s favourite could make an appearance,” teases Richard. “Watch this space!”

The brothers were raised in Whitburn and grew up dining in The Village Cafe, which previous owners Peter and Francis Hopper ran since 1972.

Speaking about how the new chapter came about, Richard said: “I popped into the café for breakfast the day after Peter and Fran had decided to put it up for sale.

“We got chatting and I put in an offer later that day. Whitburn is our family’s home and the Village Café holds so many fond memories for all of us.

“The two families have known each other for decades, going back to when our grandparents were neighbours.

“We all loved going to the café as kids and continuing to visit as we’ve grown up. I take my own children there now.

“As soon as I was told the Village Café was up for sale it just seemed like the most natural thing to make an offer.”

As part of the transition, Colmans will retain two existing members of staff with plans to create more roles as the business develops. A managerial post has already been advertised.

The business is currently closed as refurbishment works take place, with the aim of reopening the cafe later this summer.