THE team behind the new cafe at Lydney Harbour say they are looking forward to sharing a coffee with "guests old and new" after serving their first customers this week.

The cafe, called Hips Harbourside, opened to the public on Monday (December 20) along with new public toilets and a visitor information hub, all of which are part of the district council’s £2.1 million Destination Lydney Harbour Project.

The council is regenerating the site as a tourist destination through the project, which is being funded by a grant from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund along with council resources.

The council hopes the project will drive growth, improve the experience for visitors and residents and "increase jobs and prosperity" in Lydney.

The new cafe will be run by Tom and Lucy who own coffee shop and eatery Hips Social on Lydney High Street.

"We’re excited to be opening the doors of the café to guests old and new and can’t wait to share a coffee with them while they enjoy the harbour", Tom and Lucy said of the cafe’s opening.

Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for communities, Councillor Paul Hiett commented: "We are delighted to see the next stage of Destination Lydney Harbour complete; residents and visitors will now be able to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the most beloved spots in the district.

"This is only one stage of the project though, and we are determined that the rest will follow in due course.

"With the public art trail and heritage interpretation set to get underway in the coming months, along with improvements to the harbour approaches and more to follow. A community boat building project is also taking shape. 

"I would like to thank our regeneration team, who have worked tirelessly on what is a major regeneration project for the council and the opportunities that this wonderful area offers are numerous."

Lucy, Tom and the team welcomed customers along to the cafe yesterday (December 23) before closing for Christmas,

They will then be open seven days a week following the Christmas break, with full opening hours available on Hips Social’s Facebook page.