ANOTHER Costa Coffee is coming to Inverclyde — after bosses from a Greenock-based cafe chain called last orders.

The shutters have been pulled down at Fresh within the Waterfront Leisure Centre after three years.

Officials in charge of the coffee shop chain have decided not to renew their lease with centre operators Inverclyde Leisure (IL).

The cafe closed on Sunday, with bosses keen to concentrate on their recently-expanded premises in the Oak Mall and Fresh in Gourock town centre.

But the move will pave the way for a new Costa Coffee at the Waterfront, with six full and part time jobs created.

Staff who worked at Fresh — owned by Greenock-based Stepwell Consultancy — have either been redeployed or have taken up employment elsewhere.

Angela Darroch, the Hood Street company’s head of business, said: “It’s an exciting time for Fresh with the recent expansion of our Oak Mall location along with Fresh Gourock, which will have its first birthday in a few weeks.

“Our lease with IL at the Waterfront Complex has now come to its agreed end and we wish IL every success as they take over the catering outlet at the Waterfront.

“A few of our team members have been redeployed within our other locations, with one securing a position with IL as they take over the catering at the Waterfront.”

The company says it is now looking at other opportunities across the district and beyond.

Angela said: “In terms of new developments, Stepwell is always looking to create employment and employability opportunities for local people.

“In recent weeks we have taken a lease in one of Riverside Inverclyde’s industrial units that will allow us to scale up our operations and implement our growth strategy within Inverclyde and further afield.”

The new Waterfront Costa will be the area’s fifth, adding to outlets in the Oak Mall, at Ravenscraig Activity Centre, the Port Glasgow retail park drive-through and a new cafe next door within fashion retailer Next, which is due to open later this month.

An IL spokesman said: “IL have decided to operate the Waterfront cafe on a similar model to Ravenscraig Activity Centre offering the ‘Proud to Serve’ Costa brand.

“We hope to be in full operation in early January and apologise to our loyal customers during the refurbishment period.

“We believe Fresh weren’t extending the lease due to a change in their strategic business direction.

“IL wish them all the very best in their new venture and thank them for their partnership working over the last three years.”

IL will be recruiting experienced catering staff over the next week.

To apply email Gary Brown, Waterfront duty manager, at gary.brown@inverclydeleisure.com