HullBID is backing the manager of a popular city centre coffee shop to succeed if she gets the chance to revive the business which closed this week.

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said the closure of Heaven Independent Café is an example of a local outlet being hit by investment decisions elsewhere in the business.

The company opened Heaven in King Edward Street, Hull, just over a year ago to add to outlets in Harrogate and Ripon. All three ceased trading and Ms Shillito said the closure was particularly hard on Fiona George, manager of the Hull branch, and her six staff.

Ms Shillito said: “Fiona has always worked very closely with HullBID and we know from experience that the Hull branch of Heaven Independent Café was very popular and the staff worked very hard to look after their customers.

“Unfortunately this is not the first time that a business in Hull has had to close because it is part of a group which operates regionally or nationally. It is one of the reasons why HullBID works so hard to support local independent businesses which are not vulnerable to investment decisions made elsewhere.”

Ms George is now in discussions with the agents for the property and with accountants to try and put together a rescue plan and reopen the café.

Ms Shillito said: “We hope very much that Fiona will get the chance to take on the business. She leads an excellent team very well and the café itself has great potential. 

“It is in an ideal location for the existing programme of festivals and was fully involved last year in HullBID Fashion Week and the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink. It also has plenty of space indoors on two floors to become a significant venue for events in and around the City of Culture programme.”