As Costa Coffee prepares to open a signature café in Welshpool town centre in the New Year, the family of the original owner of the Pinewood Café have issued an official ‘thank-you’ and farewell to Welshpool.
The global coffee chain has purchased the building from the Evans family who had themselves acquired the building from the Foulks sisters way back in 1962. The sisters had run it as the Blue Café since 1955.
It has gone on to become a Welshpool institution but all that finger-licking history will come to an end when the café closes its doors for the final time on December 31.
Here, we have agreed to carry a full statement from Sheila and Kathryn Evans, the daughters of original owner Mervyn Evans, as their way of saying a heartfelt thank-you to the town and its customers.
“The Pinewood Café was purchased by Mervyn R. Evans on October 30, 1962.
“It was formerly known as the Blue Café which was run by two sisters Mary Myfanwy Foulks and Margaret Enid Foulks. They had been in business for 10 years previously.
“Mervyn and his brother Wynn then ran the business as the Pinewood Bakery, Restaurant and Coffee House.
“Wynn sadly died in 2000 and Mervyn carried on the business until his death in 2011. Since that time Mrs Amanda Gittins has leased the business.
“The Evans family now, with the full agreement of Mrs Gittins, have decided to sell the property to Costa Coffee.
“The Evans family would like to thank all their loyal customers and staff throughout the 50 years the business has been in the family.”
MyWelshpool recently contacted Costa Coffee about their plans for the town and while the company confirmed it will be opening, it has not given any indication as to numbers of jobs being created. The Pinewood Café currently employs 18 people.
PICTURES: Blasts from the past with one showing Mervyn with his team at the time.