A Belfast chef has been personally refitting his new dream cafe that is due to open in a few weeks time.
Stephen Johnston is set to open Halt, a new cafe on the Beersbridge Road in East Belfast on July 20, after the former joiner has spent weeks preparing the new premises that aims to provide high quality coffee and his own interpretation of classic meals.
This is his first venture of his own after spending years working in restaurants across Ireland including The Merchant Hotel, Ghan HouseMonad and was the former head chef at Blank.
Read more: Belfast chef's journey from Co Down hotel to Michelin star restaurants
Speaking to Belfast Live, Stephen highlighted how he is using his skills from a previous career as a joiner in order to create the new cafe and how he aims for it to be based around the needs of the local community.
He said: "Prior to the 2008 recession I was working as a joiner but after it hit I found it very difficult to get work and started looking for other options that were available.
"I ended up working in the Merchant Hotel shortly after this which gave me my start working as a chef and I haven't looked back since and am thankful to have worked in some of the best restaurants in the country.
"However, my dream has always been to have a place of my own and I am thrilled that I now have the opportunity to open Halt on the Beersbridge Road, with the name signifying how it will be a welcoming place to stop-off for a bite to eat and the train station that used to be located here.
"The aim of the cafe will be providing high quality coffee, brunch and lunch meals where I will be putting my own spin on some of the classic dishes such as a breakfast bap made using croissant pastry and creating my own homemade ketchup.
"There are also plans for special monthly pop-up events that will offer something different to the customers every time and allow us to get creative in the kitchen with different menus. Our first one is planned for the end of the month to coincide with the Eastside Arts Festival.
"Over the past few weeks I have been getting the cafe ready, using the skills that I learned during my time as a joiner, and hope to open it in the coming weeks and look forward to welcoming customers in for some wonderful coffee and great food."
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