AN OSWESTRY restaurant owner is set to open a takeaway style kitchen and cafe in the town's market.

Sophie Dillon, owner of the Old School House, is rigorously preparing to open a not so new business in the Powis Market Hall, that will offer customers coffee and food.

Hayes Kitchen is the predecessor of the Old School House, that started out at Hayes Barn on the outskirts of the town in 2016.

Sophie said: "We moved the business around a bit, but in 2021 we found it a home at the Old School House.

"But because of the historic nature of the building, it didn't seem appropriate to call it Hayes Kitchen."

She continued: "This seemed like a low risk way of expanding, and we wanted to have a presence at this end of town, and with the low running costs we can offer some really good value options from here."

With Old School House doing really well, winning a Good Food Award recently, Sophie and her team will be taking some of their best-selling items from the Old School House and bringing them to the market.

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She explained: "We want to add to that, in time, with more takeaway dishes, with options such as quesadillas, homemade sausage rolls and many more.

"Also we would be offering drinks, like the really good coffee, smoothies and hot chocolate."

Sophie said she has been interested in joining the Oswestry Market for a while, as she has worked in markets before.

"I just love the atmosphere of it," she said. "My dad was a fruit and veg wholesaler for many in the area, and I have worked in the market environment when I lived in Australia, as a quality control and production manager."

But she did say it was a concerning time to be expanding as the cost of living crisis continues.

She added: "It's a worrying time for everybody. People are trying to save money, so we were concerned that eating out is one of those things people will cut out."

Nevertheless, with Old School House bucking that trend currently, it's all systems go for the new Hayes Kitchen eatery in the town.