HOWLING Wolf Artisan Bakery and Café opened this week on Whitehaven harbour and they are already looking at hiring more staff following a sucessful first week.

Husband and wife duo Carmina and Beniamin Ardelean from Romania officially opened the café this week.

Located underneath the Beacon on the harbour, the business started off as a primarily family-run business but after the heaving first week, the Ardelean's have decided to recruit extra staff.

The couple moved to Whitehaven around a year and a half ago, and whilst renovating their home Ben started cooking and baking. He eventually took part in the entrepeneur markets organised by Jenny Brumby from TEG who suggested opening a shop in Whitehaven.

Carmina and Ben discussed this idea and what they would do with a space like this, but it remained as a mere daydream until one of their friends, Sarah, who works at the Beacon, suggested taking over the vacant unit.

This is where the dream started to take form, and the couple eventually made contact with Heather Holmes from the council and discussed the idea, before applying for the lease.

The couple previously lived in Birmingham and Carmina said they were worried about 'stigma' for being outsiders, which made her nervous about opening a shop in the town.

She said: "We were worried it would be a slow start as we are not from here. In Birmingham, we never felt welcome. But here, no one even flinches.

"Everyone has been welcoming and I feel like we are already creating a little community."

Although Howling Wolf is newly-opened, Ben and Carmina have big plans for the cafe and bakery.

Carmina said: "We want to employ more people so we can continue to thrive, and then we aren't exhausted on our own as well.

"We want to hire younger people to give them new job opportunities, as well as open the terrace and run from earlier until later."

Howling Wolf also want to pledge to invest in their workers and the community. Carmina said: "We offer training through our suppliers, and in the store. We don't want this to just be a paycheck, we want to do everything we can to equip people with skills to carry it forward.

"We offer barista training for free which would result in a pay rise."

The most popular items sold so far have been the cinnamon rolls and coffees. The coffee is roasted locally in Cumbria and imported from a small family business in Brazil. Carmina and Ben are looking at other local roasters to supply upcoming items such as cold brews.

Carmina said: "We want to be able to collaborate with the Beacon and maintain a cohesive relationship with them and the community."