A NEW roadside eaterie has opened in Shipston on Stour run by an award winning local family

Launched with the backing of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, the new Pitstop café is in a unit previously home to a Little Chef and, most recently, an Indian restaurant,. It is the latest addition to the portfolio of restaurants owned by Baggy, Sheelagh and Gabe Saunders, which includes two award winning pubs and an inn in the Shipston area.

Now open for business, the café has been designed to appeal to passing motorists on Fosse Way, responding to a lack of roadside diners available to those travelling along the route. It has been fully renovated with a motorsport theme, in-line with Mr Saunders' long-held passion for classic racing cars.

Pitstop will continue the family's "totally locally" philosophy of sourcing quality ingredients from suppliers in the region for its breakfasts, lunches, coffees and cakes. It will also sell local produce for customers to take home, an area of the business that has been earmarked by management to provide potential growth moving forward.

Pitstop will also provide free wi-fi, newspapers and TV, as well as wheelchair access and baby changing facilities. The opening of the café has created five new jobs, helping to boost employment in the region.

Mr Saunders said: “With a lack of facilities available for passing motorists, we’re pleased to open the doors of our new café, which offers a high quality choice of locally sourced meals and refreshments for those on the move. The investment from Lloyds Bank has been vital in allowing this vision to become reality, and we look forward to welcoming customers at Pitstop next time they find themselves travelling on Fosse Way.”

David Worthington, Relationship Manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “We’re pleased to have worked with Baggy, Sheelagh and Gabe Saunders to provide funding for the purchase of the vacant restaurant unit in a prime roadside location. The family has a proven track record of developing award winning restaurants, and this is a fantastic addition to the portfolio."