A COCKERMOUTH cafe wants to expand due to its popularity.

Veeva, on Station Street, which is owned by Mitchells Antiques and Fine Art, is seeking permission from Allerdale council to turn a redundant office on the first floor into additional seating area.

Mark Wise, director at Mitchells, said: “The cafe is generally busy pretty much all of the time, and at particularly busy times we’re finding we’re having to turn people away.

“At weekends we can extend out into the reception area of our sale room entrance, but we can’t use that during the week.

“The idea is to have a function room upstairs, above the current seating area and extend the kitchen.”

He added the function room would almost duplicate the capacity the cafe currently has.

Mr Wise said the company was currently exploring options and costs.

Provided those were viable and planning permission granted, the project would be completed within around six months.

“There is certainly demand for more space but we’re looking at whether it’s economically sensible.

“The cafe is so successful, it would be ideal if we had more space on the ground floor, but we don’t,” added Mr Wise.

Allerdale council’s planning department has launched a consultation on the project and members of the public have time to comment until Wednesday, January 15.