Two sisters are looking forward to breathing new life into an empty town centre unit after being forced to find a new home for their popular Barrhead business.

Jennifer Capaldi and Frances Quinn founded cake venture Catherine Rose five years ago before later expanding into the former hairdressers next door and creating a tearoom.

Recently, however, the owner of the building on Cross Arthurlie Street has decided to sell and, as a result, the pair will soon be moving into the old Jewellery Workshop premises in Main Street.

Due to its more compact size, the siblings will no longer operate a sit-in café but will instead offer takeaway cakes, coffee and afternoon tea, as well as continuing to make an impressive array of occasion cakes.

“We are really excited about it and moving up to the Main Street will mean we are a wee bit more central,” mum-of-three Jennifer told the Barrhead News.

“We were born and brought up in Barrhead and our family has been here for generations, so it’s nice that we will continue to be a part of that.

“We will be moving over the next few weeks. The café is closed but we are still trading and working behind the scenes to do everyone’s orders and trying to get the new shop ready.

“We have got plans to expand our range as well. I can’t go into any details until everything is finalised but people should keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates.”

As a nod to their roots in the town, the sisters named the business after their dad’s mother Catherine Quinn (nee McLearie) and their mum’s mother Rose (Ann) Wright (nee Gormley).

Since opening in November 2016, they have developed a strong following amongst local residents and, in 2019, they were named Family Business of the Year at the All About Barrhead Awards.

For several years, the sisters have also been helping others in the town through their Lean on Me initiative, which they started following the sudden passing of their brother Anthony, who died in his sleep.

The 30-year-old struggled with his mental health, so Jennifer and Frances started a monthly drop-in café, where people could go to talk with others.

Unfortunately, they won’t be able to run this from their new premises but they insist this will not spell the end of the support group.

“Lean on Me has had a fantastic response,” added Jennifer. “We know from the feedback we’ve had that it has helped people.

“It is definitely going to continue, it just won’t continue in its current form within our premises.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/catherinerosecakes.