THE owners of a town centre cafe and bar are due to sell-up after five years in business.

Slate bar and cafe in Kendal will be sold after its owners decided it was ‘time to move on’

Owner Kaushik Mistry said the venue would go on the market for around £50,000, with prospective new owners already expressing interest.

The cafe and bar first opened its doors five years ago and has welcomed people for daytime coffees and evening cocktails.

Mr Mistry, 51, is from Arnside and also runs a hospitality consultancy business.

He said: “It’s almost like a local even though it’s in the town centre and it’s done really well.

“A lot of restaurants come and go but we’ve felt like it’s been part of the furniture.

“We’ve got to know a lot of customers.

“But business take a lot of out of you and it’s the right time for others to have a go.

“We haven’t got the energy to keep it going and it’s time to move on.”

Run by Mr Mistry alongside Tejshree and daughter Aakshi, Slate has hosted wedding parties, book launches and charity events.

The owner said he would miss interacting with regulars.

“People often come in at 9am for a coffee and leave at 7pm," he said.

“It’s a real wrench to leave.

“We’re all really upset but we know we can’t keep going.”

He said two buyers had already come forward showing interest

"Because of its location, and with the option of putting tables outside, it’s got a lot of people interested."