Ref. 72706-07A CAF owner is so fed up with the binge drinking culture in Swindon that he plans to stay open at night to offer an alternative nightlife for the over 30s.

Matt Lewis, the owner of Bex Coffee, in Havelock Street, hopes to introduce Mediterranean-style caf society to Swindon by opening until 10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The 24-year-old said: "We hope to launch our late opening hours in the first week of November.

"We're hoping that while the over 30s think of Bridge Street as a no-go zone, they will think of Havelock Street as the go zone.

"It's just going to be a really great laid back atmosphere in there with '50s music playing and comfortable sofas for people to sit on.

"A lot of our regulars have said that Swindon needs somewhere like this for the more mature person.

"Swindon town centre is a bit of a dull place really and a lot of people would rather stay at home on a night than go out there because of the drinking culture in town.

"It just seems to be all about people getting drunk with fights going on and that sort of thing."

Matt says that most of his customers are in the 27 to 57 age bracket and range from office workers to parents who have just dropped their children off at school.

He opened the caf in August in partnership with his girlfriend Becky, 29.

Matt not only named the caf after her but has also given her nickname to a new blend of coffee he has developed the Bex Blend.

"For both of us it was a dream to open this caf and we're doing pretty well so far," said Matt.

"Here we offer coffees at one price and in one size because we wanted to simplify it."

Diane Milne