The new owner of a popular West Belfast café has paid tributes to their staff, past owners and customers for supporting their journey.
Applejacks, on the Glen Road, serves coffees, lunches and treats for children, with a feel-good family atmosphere from within.
And having sold recently to Lenadoon man Martin McGuinness, he told Belfast Live that they had big shoes to fill.
"The past owners, Marty and Jackie, they are great people," he said.
"I grew up in the area and went to CBS across the street. When I was in school, I wanted to go into cooking so I went to Cross and Passion every Thursday for home economics. We'd be there with all the girls and make apple cakes!
"Moving to England, I worked in a few hospitality businesses and then came back - I have always had a thing for food and a thing for cooking.
"I was talking about investing in something and then a mutual friend said Applejacks was up for sale and I would have always only heard good things about it. They had a cracking social media. I got in touch with the previous owners and the day I walked in I just knew it was a great wee place.
"I am still in contact with Marty and Jackie, they done a smashing job with Applejacks and they have been there for support. They come in and support us. There are expectations that you have to meet with taking over it."
Martin opened on June 21 and says the staff who were previously with Marty and Jackie are still in Applejacks.
And in close proximity to a couple of schools and pockets of estates, Martin says the local young people are great fun.
"It is very tight knit on the Glen Road and people who live in Caffrey Avenue are great," he said.
"You could get someone sitting on opposite sides of the room and they're having conversations across their tables - everyone knows everyone and people love the staff because they're all brilliant.
"Working in this industry, people always remember your greeting and your saying goodbye. It's very important to me so I want to make sure every guest leaves happy.
"The people from West Belfast, being biased here, are the best. They're maybe a bit mental, very opinionated, but they are good people and they'll always be there to support local. I can't thank them enough for helping us."
