Ground Espresso Bars have become the first independently-owned business to be selected by Waterstone’s to open and manage a new 55-seater coffee area, creating 10 new jobs at the firm’s branch on Fountain Street.

Ground Espresso Bars opened its first outlet in Coleraine in 2001 and has expanded to Ballymena, Portrush and Ballymoney.

The company’s Belfast outlet – which opened yesterday – is an achievement as was acknowledged by co-owner Karen Gardiner.

She said: “This has been an exciting period for our business. The support of First Trust Bank has been vital in helping us achieve this.

“From our initial contact with Waterstone’s to completing the project, the bank’s Coleraine branch has been of constant assistance, advising and encouraging us along the way.”

Commenting on the opening of the new outlet, Kevin McWilliams, senior manager of First Trust Bank, said: “For a local company to succeed in a venture of this nature is a great accomplishment, given the strength of the competition today from global and national coffee house brands.”