LOCALLY sourced cakes, pies and goodies will be on offer at the newest eatery to open in Barrow.

Bela – Food & Coffee is set to make its grand debut when it officially opens on May 4 at 118a Risedale Road.

The woman behind the business is Emma Wells, who moved to the town from Kendal eight years ago.

Emma is hoping to use her previous experience in catering to bring her dream to life.

“For the last eight years I’ve been a commercial catering manager at Furness College and it was just time for a change,” said Emma.

“I’ll just work for myself now. I’ve done what I can with the college – I changed that and made that trendy, and now I want to be here and cater for all.”

The café will have plenty of options for those who are vegan and gluten free.

She said: “It’s not going to be just your normal, typical sandwich shop. We’re going to do vegan options and gluten-free options, and I also want workers to come in and have their breakfast buns and their pies and coffee.

“A lot of other sandwich shops and pie shops don’t cater for vegans or are gluten-free so we’re going to have cakes on offer for them too as well as pies and sandwiches.”

The delicious food on offer at the café will be from local suppliers, and there is a buzz among future potential customers already.

“We’ve got some local suppliers in, and I have created jobs for two local people," she said. "We have Browns Butchers supplying the pies and a local lady is supplying the cakes.

“As we have been doing lots of work here at the café people have been popping in and asking what we are doing.”

Although excited about the new business, it does not come without nerves.

“It’s just one of them where you really hope it works after giving up a salary. But I have years of experience behind me because I’m also a qualified chef,” said Emma.

“I’m very excited, it’s a new venture.”

Bela will be open for breakfast and lunches between 8am-2.30pm on Monday to Saturday.