A POPULAR coffee shop has had to close one of its outlets in Bolton town centre.

Coffee Grind opened in Newport Street in 2016 but has closed after being hit hard by the Covid lockdown.

However, the business is still operating its stall in Bolton Market.

The Newport Street shop opened as part of Bolton Council’s £3 million scheme to redevelop the area.

Jill and Nigel Lyons, the owners of The Coffee Grind, were given a grant from the council to help with business rates and rent and decided to expand after the success of their shop in the market.

But now they are back to just the one shop.

At the time of opening the Newport Street outlet, Jill, from Smithills, said: “We’re so proud of Bolton. I’m Bolton born and bred, and Nigel’s a Cockney but loves Bolton now too.”

But lockdown hit the new venture hard, and the owners decided to devote their time to helping out at Covid clinics.

Jill, a registered nurse, had re-donned her uniform to help administer vaccines, while Nigel volunteered as a steward, checking patients’ temperatures on arrival and guiding them around the site.

Both Nigel and Jill said at the time they were hopeful that the vaccine roll-out would mean a gradual return to normality and a lifeline for their business.