A popular Cornish café that has played host to a slew of celebrities has reportedly turned down a £750,000 buyout from giant Costa Coffee.
Kevin and Laura Baker run the Nice Baps café in Wadebridge and have previously received guests including multi-Michelin star-winning chef Gordon Ramsay.
David Cameron has also paid a visit to the eatery and the cast of BBC show Poldark are said to have stopped off for a break while filming.
The roadside café, which is situated in a shipping container, is renowned for its incredibly positive feedback, but it has in the past attracted more than a few sniggers and some controversy over its name.
Now, the Mail Online reports that Britain’s biggest coffee chain has offered the popular café a £750,000 buyout bid, which has been 'politely declined' by its owners.
Kevin Baker, 56, who runs the café with wife Laura, 37, said: "I love my job and I love my café. Costa has been after us for years.
"Each time a smartly dressed man has come in and asked if we would like to sell them the site – the first offer was £80,000, then £90,000 and then £120,000. We are now at £750,000. I politely declined. They could offer me a million pounds and I still wouldn’t accept."
The hardworking Cornishman, who was once homeless and living in a van, said he reinvests a lot of the profits that are made from the business towards helping local homeless people.
The father-of-two said: "Some things are more important in life than money and being happy in your job is one of them.
"I love my job and I love meeting new customers every day. Besides, like much of the country, Cornwall is swamped with Costa Coffees – do we really need another multi-million pound conglomerate opening up? I really don’t think we do."
He went on to describe their business as 'simple' and said their reputation shows how you don't need to be a big national chain as long as the food is 'delicious' with 'good old-fashioned hospitality.’
