A CHOLLERFORD cafe popular with walkers and motorbikers has received a rebrand and makeover.

Owner, Trudie Sanderson (28) has past experience running her own ‘Trudies Kitcthen’ canteen at Newcastle Racecourse and Acklington Mart.

But now she’s decided to go one step further and open her own cafe in a prime Tynedale location.

As part of the takeover, Trudie has rebranded the previous tearoom concept into a kitchen, with a focus on fresh home-made food.

Trudie’s no stranger to the area either, she grew up in Heddon-On-The-Wall and now lives in Barrasford.

“The environment that I want to create is a warm welcome for everyone, whether your boots are clean or muddy,” she said. “I want it to be a place that you can use for five minutes or relax in for over an hour.

She hopes the cafe’s close proximity to Chesters Roman Fort and Walwick Hall will make it a success.

“This time of year you still see a lot of people walking the Wall, and they often use Chollerford as an overnight stop off.”

There’s also a strong Northumberland presence seen through the interior. From the tables and chairs to the cushions and wall art, local businesses and designers have all played their part.

“Although I own the business, all of the nine other staff and others outside have all played their part in getting to where we are today.”

Trudie took advice from the past owner to open the cafe at 9am instead of the usual 10am to appeal to early morning walkers.

She said: “We’ve received a brilliant reaction in the run up on Facebook, but you never know what to expect. Working in the food industry, you need to take it one step at a time.”

There’s also plans for seasonal special offers and a loyalty scheme. “I would like to get the local community involved. Since we’re so close to two schools and Hadrian’s Wall, it would be great to be seen as an integral part of the local landscape,” she added.