A small but perfectly formed boutique business group is hoping to make it a triple success.

Elephant in Neston hit the headlines when entrepreneurs Emma and Adam Mitchell opened up a coffee shop on the market town’s high street in 2012, and it quickly become the only one in the north west to win the coveted Cafe Society Gold Award.

In 2014 they added the Elephant Lounge & Bar Parkgate, which carried off the Best Coffee Shop Design in the UK award in 2016.

And now at Neston’s historic Cross they have taken on the former NatWest bank branch to create Elephant Bank Pizzeria & Bar, with foodies flocking to make reservations although the doors do not open until Thursday (December 15).

The venture has cost the couple just under £500,000 and will bring almost 30 new jobs to the town.

They explained: “We have always had a huge passion for Italian food, coffee and culture. It inspired us to open our first coffee shop in Neston in 2012, to expand on that concept in 2014 with our lounge and bar in Parkgate and now in 2016 we are taking it to a whole new level with Elephant Bank.”

They added: “We are so excited to open the doors of Elephant Bank Pizzeria and Bar on December 15.

“We have been working away for the last 12 months to keep the original features of the bank and to merge them with our crazy design.

Elephant Bank Pizzeria and Bar in Neston which entrepreneurs Emma and Adam Mitchell will open on December 15
Elephant Bank Pizzeria and Bar in Neston which entrepreneurs Emma and Adam Mitchell will open on December 15

“Our goal is to give Neston a great venue with an atmosphere and selection usually reserved for exclusive city centre venues.

“The food menu we have come up with is our own rustic take on classic Italian with anipasti, nibbles, pizza, pasta, secondi and desserts.

“There is also a great choice of craft beers, amazing wines, delicious spirits and of course our own cocktails to wash it down with as well as our famous coffee selection.”

Reservations opened just seven days ahead of the official launch with some days already booked up and other dates filling up quickly as customers looked forward to the ‘dangerously delectable’ menus.

The food and speciality drinks will also include children’s menus so people can bring the whole family.

The wraps are being kept on the interior design at the moment as Elephant mysteriously suggests: “We are keeping that a small secret as there are a few crazy things going on...”

Hours will be Monday to Thursday 3.30pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday noon to 1am and Sunday noon to midnight.

Emma and Adam were named as Neston Entrepreneurs of the Year for Elephant Coffee Neston at this year’s recent Neston Business Awards.