A FAMOUS Greenock cafe which closed 18 months ago is back in business — complete with the award-winning ice cream it became renowned for.

Orangefield Cafe — formerly Dino’s — reopened on Saturday thanks to Greenock couple Colin and Nicola McEachnie.

They have taken on a lease for the Holmscroft Street property from owner Dino Pieri, who closed the doors after retiring in December 2013.

The pair grew up enjoying the cafe’s frozen treats and tasty sweets and say it’s a dream to be behind the counter rather than in front of it.

Nicola, 30, will be in charge of the day-to-day running of the business and has taken a big gamble after quitting her office job with Greenock bakery firm Aulds to resurrect the famous ice cream parlour.

But the mum-of-one says it is a risk worth taking and is excited about welcoming customers old and new.

She told the Tele: “I’ve always done home-baking and stuff and I always wanted to have my own place.

“When we saw this place was up for grabs and the ice cream comes with it, it was something not to be missed because it’s been here so long and is so well-known.

“We’re both from Greenock and have lived here all our lives and we used to come here when we were younger.

“I gave up my job with Aulds to concentrate on this.

“It’s a bit scary — daunting but exciting at the same time.” Colin, 29, has been working around the clock juggling his full-time job with long shifts in the cafe — which dates back to the 1920s — freshening it up and learning the ropes.

Despite getting up for work at 6am and then staying on at the cafe until 1am the next morning just to get everything ready for the weekend opening, he is delighted to be part of a piece of Greenock history.

Colin said: “It’s a challenge but fingers crossed it goes well.

“I always went to the chip shop next door then in here after it for ice cream.

“I’m from this area — I grew up in Broomhill — so it was only down the hill.

“Dino has been great with us.

“His interest is keeping the ice cream and everybody has been asking us what the ice cream is going to be like — it’s Dino’s original recipe, that was part of the deal when taking over.

“He will be making it with us to begin with to make sure it’s right then it will be over to us.

“He worked hard to build up the reputation so we want to do it justice.” Nicola has also introduced her delicious home-baking to the menu and the cafe will also serve breakfasts, paninis, soup, tea, coffee and cold drinks from 7am until 8pm six days a week, except Wednesday.

She said: “The place means a lot to a lot of people so the pressure is there to make sure we don’t ruin their memories and also to let others make new ones.

“It’s about living up to expectations.” But the couple, who have a four-year-old son, Corey, are not the only ones acting like kids in a sweet shop.

Nicola said: “Corey’s loving it.

“He’s been pretending he’s Dino behind the counter!”