A NEW cafe is to open in Altrincham this autumn.

Bosses at Rocket & Orange say the family concept café will offering specialty coffee, fresh and local food and creative play for children.

The cafe will open on Borough Road, next to Stamford Park.

Rocket & Orange’s head chef, Sam Hannaford, has joined the company from Greens in West Didsbury and was formerly at the Hawksmoor on Deansgate.

The food offering will include hearty breakfasts, artisan sandwiches, light bites and salads, soups and family sharing platters. Cakes and treats will also feature highly, while the coffee will come from speciality roaster Ancoats Coffee Company.

Creative play opportunities will be available for children, including role play, Lego building, table football, games, paper crafts, drawing as well as wooden and interactive toys for younger children. There will also be monthly design competitions. Once open, there are plans to offer children’s workshops and parties, with a focus on crafts and cooking.

The venture is spearheaded by couple Jenni and Karim Moolla, who bring more than 35 years combined experience in branding, marketing and retail. They planned the venture with support from local, award winning executive head chef Andy Slaven. Jenni developed the concept after a continued frustration in the lack of quality offering typically available for families with younger children in high street cafes.

“The extent of the family offering in most cafe venues can be very limited,” said Jenni. “There tends to be little creativity in children’s menu creation and presentation and we plan to change that. I feel there is a real opportunity to create a quality, community destination that caters well for both parents and children in a creative, family environment.”

Rocket & Orange will open seven days a week, from 9am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sundays.