‘I found out I was pregnant two days before we got the keys to our new Spalding cafe… and now we’re opening tomorrow’

A ‘cosy’ new town centre cafe will open its doors tomorrow - the start of what promises to be a lifechanging year for its owners.

Ionut and Raluca Ungureanu discovered they were expecting their first child just two days before they got the keys to their new Spalding eaterie.

And with hopes of one day adding to their family as well as creating a successful business, they decided to call their new cafe Fratelli, the name meaning brothers in Italian.

“I felt it was time now, after having some experience, to have our own venture,” explained manager Raluca, who has eight years of experience in the hospitality trade.

“I just found out I was pregnant two days before we got the keys, so it (Fratelli) was just a random name we decided on when we were having a meal.

“If they’re going to have another brother or sister we want to keep the business up and running, so it felt like a good name.”

Fratelli - located in the former Clinton Cards shop in Hall Place - will serve breakfast and lunchtime food such as focaccia sandwiches and sourdough pizza, prepared by chef Ionut, from 9am to 5.30pm seven days a week, as well as being a venue for friends to catch up over a coffee.

“Everything is freshly made in the kitchen, we prefer everything to be fresh and we hope the customers will like our new menu,” Raluca added.

“We had some feedback after people looked at the menu and they say it looks nice, so hopefully they’ll come and try it.”

Passers by were being offered slices of free pizza today (Monday, July 8) and the chance to get a glimpse inside, where a the owners have gone for a light, summertime vibe.

“We just wanted something to look cosy for every customer,” added Raluca, who moved to the UK from Romania a decade ago.

“We want it to be a nice atmosphere.”

You can find out more about Fratelli on their Facebook page.