Car firm owner brews up coffee venture

A car servicing and MOT business owner has brewed up a new venture with the launch of a coffee shop in Bramhope.

Mark Frankland, who owns West Park based Motor Marque, has opened Refresca coffee shop on Tredgold Avenue, creating five jobs.

With a keen interest in aviation, Frankland has travelled extensively and says he has always dreamed of recreating the stylish coffee shops found in the many European cities he has visited.

He said: “Nineteen years ago I started Motor Marque on my own from my van, and have grown that into a thriving business employing 22 people. I have always wanted to open a coffee shop, having been lucky enough to go to some of the finest coffee houses throughout the world and was keen to re-create a similar experience back at home.

“In Bramhope there was no quality offering, or in fact any of the normal high-street coffee shops, so I saw a real gap in the market for Refresca where we serve the very finest coffee, refreshing tea and of course delicious food to soak it all up with. All our products are ethically sourced and where possible, sourced locally from smaller businesses which supports the community. We also regularly test and check the provenance of everything we do, so we even know which cows kindly produce the milk we use.”

Frankland has taken a lease on the building, and was advised by Russell Burnett from LCF Barber Titleys.

Burnett added: “I was delighted to advise Mark on some of the legal aspects associated with leasing a new property. It’s great to see an entrepreneur like Mark branch out with a new venture. Not only is he creating more local jobs, but he has brought a touch of European style to the leafy suburbs of Bramhope and I wish him every success with the business, which is already proving extremely popular with customers.”