A Newcastle city centre coffee shop is undergoing an 'Australian-inspired' transformation as it expands to accommodate more customers.
Laneway & Co on High Bridge has been a popular haunt for coffee fans for almost seven years and now owner Nick Birss has announced the venue is taking over the former micro pub unit next door.
The 31-year-old is working with Collective Design on the major project that will enable the coffee shop to increase its seating capacity from 20 people to 60.
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Laneway & Co is currently closed while work is underway, with the aim to open the new-look venue by mid-July. Plans for the coffee shop see the dividing wall between the units knocked down to create a bright and airy space where customers can enjoy a range of breakfast and brunch dishes with a "unique twist."
"It has been in the pipeline for a year and a half," Nick said.
"We have taken over the unit next door and converted it into one unit. We have been shut since last Saturday and will hopefully be back open by mid-July.
"We are going to expand our breakfast offering to do more breakfast and brunch-style dishes. We are also looking at opening later a couple of nights a week in the long term."
He continued: "We are working with Collective Design on it who do a lot of the really nice hospitality venues all over town and the country. They are taking us out of our comfort zone and I think it is definitely going to take the cafe to a different level.
"Laneway has always been associated with being Australian-inspired but this is really going down that avenue more. The design is really light and airy, there is plenty of space and a nice mix of big tables.
The expansion will created six new jobs and will enable the venue to accommodate larger groups.
Nick added: "I think everyone is pretty excited to see how it's going to turn out and the increased capacity."
Laneway & Co will be open seven days a week from mid-July.
