A popular café which left a sizeable hole in the community after closing due to family health issues has reopened under new ownership.

The Fern Sandwich Bar built up a large and loyal clientele after its launch by three generations of a Poole family in September 2020.

But, reluctantly, Tina Edwards and her family shut and locked the doors of the café on September 10 this year.

The closure triggered an outpouring of supportive messages and comments from customers.

The business was subsequently advertised for sale for £20,000 or near offer.

Now the café, at 111 St Mary’s Road, has been acquired by former fireman Steve Amos, 57, and his wife Lizzy, 56.

And nobody is more delighted than the former owners who have given the new venture their full blessing.

Tina said: “We were very sad that family health issues made us close the café just as we were getting established.

“We were so lucky when Steve just dropped in – we were actually showing someone else around who wanted to buy it.

“There was an instant chemistry between Steve and The Fern and I knew that he saw what we saw for the community.

Steve and Lizzy Amos with Tina Edwards (centre) and her parents Terry and Maureen Stickland.

“Steve and Liz are very community focused and are very excited to get open fully.

“We have been in the background but now it’s their time to shine.

“The community responses to me privately have been overwhelming with so much support.

“We really want the best of the magic of The Fern to continue for Liz and Steve.

“They are really lovely people and we can’t wish them enough success.”

Steve, pictured left, retired from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue at the age of 55 after 27 years’ service, latterly as Watch Manager at Christchurch.

He said: “My retirement plan was to get a café.

“Something totally different to what I’ve done before.

“I like food and cooking and I’ve always fancied the idea of being able to do food that people like.

“Because we get a lot of local people coming in, and they tend to revisit, I don’t want to change anything on the menu.

“We’ll play it safe with what people know.”

However Steve, a self-confessed sausage afficionado, said he would be introducing a ‘Sausage of the Week’ for the cooked breakfasts.

He said: “I’m fussy and I don’t like cheap sausages, the ordinary catering ones.

“We had a ‘sausage off’ in here with nine sausages and have chosen four favourites.

“My aim is to serve the best breakfast in Poole.”

Former member of staff Sharon Vickers, pictured right, has returned as Manageress and Steve and Lizzy hope to employ other ex-staff as well.

Steve said: “Having Sharon back was critical.

“We really needed someone who knew their stuff, not only from the business side but also the community aspect.

“That’s where she’s worth her weight in gold.”

Lizzy, pictured left, also runs her own graphic design business and publishes the Canford Heath and Creekmoor Link community magazines.

She said: “A community café with my community magazines is absolutely perfect.

“I’ve driven past here many times and thought: ‘what a fantastic place for a cafe’.

“The location is absolutely spot on.

“Tina and Maureen [Stickland, Tina’s mum] have been amazing all through this and very supportive.

“It’s very much Tina’s baby.

“A lot of time, money and effort went into it over the last two years.

“She wanted it to be run as a community café and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing.

“We feel very lucky.

“The café has such a lovely feel about it. Really relaxed.

“I feel incredibly excited.

“Steve has always wanted to have a café and it will be perfect for him.”

Steve’s daughter, Rebecca, who worked at Nellie Crumb in Wareham, will also be joining the team.

Steve said: “I don’t necessarily jump and down with excitement – but I never have.

“I’m nervous, it’s quite a commitment, both in terms of finance and the state of the economy.

“There’s a lot of unknowns out there but if we get it right we’ll do OK.”

The Fern Sandwich Bar is currently open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12 noon Saturday and Sunday.

It can seat 32 people inside and out and also offers a takeaway service and buffet catering.

Lizzy said: “We’ll be open up until December 23 and also December 28, 29 and 30.

“Then it’s all guns blazing in the New Year.”

The Fern Sandwich Bar has a ten per cent discount for NHS and blue light workers.

• thefernsandwichbar.com