New tapas bar opens in Shrewsbury market
A new tapas restaurant and coffee bar has opened in the Market Hall, Shrewsbury, serving Sangria and traditional Spanish dishes.
Cafe AleOli has been launched by Frances O'Shea after 10 years of living in Spain where she worked in the food and drink industry.
"It was always a dream to open my own restaurant or cafe, even back in Spain but I had a young family so there wasn't the opportunity. When premises became available in the Market Hall here I grabbed it," she said.
"Food is pure passion for me. It's about giving and sharing, communicating and socialising. We serve traditional Spanish recipes, all cooked from scratch on the premises, using local ingredients.
"We source our vegetables and meats from the market, our bread is baked by Swifts Bakery in Ludlow and a Spanish supplier, based in the UK, supplies us with our Spanish produce."
Cafe AleOli serves Sangria, San Miguel beer and Spanish wines as well as barista-style coffee.
"People can drop in for breakfast, lunch or simply a coffee and cake. We have a 'Cosy Corner', filled with soft seating and cushions, where people can relax and enjoy a coffee and a read of Spanish newspapers and magazines," added Frances.
The cafe, which employs an additional two full-time members of staff, derives its name from an amalgam of the names of Frances' son Alejandro, six, and daughter Olivia, 13. The pronunciation is the same as the Spanish word for garlic mayonnaise.
Frances relocated back to Shrewsbury from Spain in 2010 after managing a Spanish bar and cafe.
