Coffee chain '˜hoping to open Carrick branch'

One of Northern Ireland's leading artisan coffee chains could soon be opening a branch in Carrickfergus.

Bob & Berts, which currently operates 11 cafes across Northern Ireland, has expressed an interest in bringing the franchise to the borough.

Last week, the coffee chain posted an image of a sunny Carrickfergus seafront on their Twitter page, accompanied by the message: “Hope Carrickfergus is always this stunning... Bert might be spending a little more time in this town.”

The news was welcomed among users of the social media site, with many keen to know where the branch would be based.

Speaking to the Times, Bob & Berts Managing Director Colin McClean confirmed that the company are “hoping to open up a branch in Carrickfergus.”

“We’re currently looking at finding a site,” he added. “It would be our twelfth branch.”

Although no further details are available about a potential location for the cafe, each new branch generally provides around 20 jobs, according to Mr McClean.

Having seen a rapid expansion across Northern Ireland in recent years, Bob & Berts currently operates a number of branches in Portstewart, Portrush, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Ballycastle, Coleraine, Lisburn, Bangor, Limavady, and Omagh.

There are also plans to open a branch in Stranmillis, South Belfast.