Festival Place: Boswells cafe opened in Basingstoke

Family-run cafe chain Boswells, which has a select group of cafes around the UK, has officially opened its 19th location in Basingstoke

The cafe, which took over the former Patisserie Valerie unit, is known for its freshly prepared food and lively atmosphere.

Boswells, which boasts a friendly and independent style, also has branches in nearby towns like Andover, Reading, and Newbury.

Boswells, the new cafe that opened in Festival Place (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Family-run cafe Boswells opening in Festival Place

Founded in 1972 as a bakery, Boswells has grown into a thriving café business, now in the hands of the third generation of the Burn family.

Brothers Nick (50), Matt (48), and Tim Burn (47) currently run the business.

The trio were all present at the Basingstoke café to celebrate the grand opening.

Speaking to the Gazette, MD Nick Burn said: “We are very excited and really, really happy. It’s taken a couple of months to open after we took over the place, but hopefully we can build on this strong start.”

Despite being a weekday, the cafe was bustling with customers on opening day, which Nick hopes is a positive sign for the future.

"It’s a good spot, right in the middle of the centre, and it’s lively. Our aim is to appeal to people of all ages. Hopefully, it will be even busier during the upcoming half-term."

Boswells has hired 30 staff members for the Basingstoke branch.

The team is focused on delivering excellent customer service and creating a warm, welcoming environment.

Nick added: "We focus on a lovely atmosphere and good food and drink. Our goal is to make this the best cafe in Basingstoke."

Everything is freshly prepared at the cafe, and the company prides itself on its warm home-from-home vibe at the heart of the local community.

It will be offering a varied and delicious range of made-to-order food and drinks, with something for everyone from an all-day breakfast to lunch, afternoon tea or just a quick snack, coffee, tea, smoothie or milkshake.

There’s a specially designed children’s menu with loads of great options, as well as a wide range of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergen-specific alternatives.

The opening of Boswells follows hard on the heels of the news that Superbowl UK and Hans Buffet will be joining Festival Place next year.

Boswells’ customers have already praised the new venue.

SEE ALSO: Leasehold sale could be a good news for Festival Place

Theresa Strachan (Image: Newsquest)

From left to right, Lindsey Underwood and Jill Laffling (Image: Newsquest)

From left to right, Kim Mawhinney, Linda Clay and Carol Hope (Image: Newsquest) Lindsey Underwood and Jill Laffling, who visited on opening day, said: “The coffee was lovely, and the staff were lovely too. It’s a nice spot and very good for families. The location also makes it great for people with disabilities. It’s quite a big cafe and well-priced. We love it.”

Theresa Strachan said: “This is quite a nice place. There’s a nice variety of food, and I love the atmosphere.”

Carol Hope, Linda Clay, and Kim Mawhinney enjoyed their lunch and were equally impressed with the food and ambiance.

“It’s a nice place, and we love it,” they said.