A young couple have opened an ambitious debut restaurant in the Cheshire village of Farndon, on the Welsh border six miles from Wrexham.

Felix Shore and Anna Roseblade moved fast when the opportunity arose, transforming a former café in the heart of the village in just four weeks. Their bistro, 209, opens every day for breakfast and brunch, serving dinner from Wednesday to Saturday with a daily changing menu from Felix – who trained in top Scandinavian kitchens including Restaurant Frantzen in Stockholm and Kontrast in Oslo.

Anna has previously worked in fashion and as a nurse during the pandemic, but has long had her eye on a career in hospitality.

“We’ve always dreamed of having our own restaurant,” she says. “After spending time abroad, including a serious consideration to settle in New Zealand, we knew we had to come back home and make that dream a reality. When the opportunity arose to take on the space at the Farmhouse , we jumped at it. It’s been a whirlwind since, but one filled with so much love for what we do.”

They have kitted out “intimate” in the former Farmhouse Café, installing banquette seating and custom-designed tables to create a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

“We aren’t trying to be flashy or trendy,” says Anna. “We want to be your neighbourhood spot, where you can come multiple times a week and always feel welcome.

“There’s no big money in hospitality anymore, and that’s okay. We’re doing this because we love it. It’s about sharing our passion with others and creating a space where people can feel at home.”