A popular family-run café will open its doors on Christmas Day to feed the hungry and homeless.
Carlinda’s Sandwich Bar at 96 Main Street, Ayr will open from 8am to 12noon offering anyone in need a hearty bowl of homemade lentil soup and a roll and slice sausage.
Owner Kevin Marcellino, 31, has kept the café in the family after taking over from mum Linda Andrews, 67, when she retired last month.
Kevin said: “The more people that see it, hopefully it will benefit more people who need it.
“Myself and my younger brother are going to come in on Christmas morning. We’ll have a big pot of lentil soup and rolls and slice.
“I don’t know how many people will turn up but at least it’s there, and if people see it they know there’s somewhere they can come.
“My mum had the café for about 15 years serving the community.
“She retired last month, just with her health, so I took it over and thought I need to serve the community right away.
“The timing [with Christmas] was perfect and I thought, ‘why not?’"
Carlinda’s is well known in the town for their all-day breakfasts, hot filled rolls and homemade meals including stovies, lasagne and a wide selection of burgers.
Kevin said mum Linda likes to pop in to make sure everything is up to her standards.
He added: “My mum hasn’t been keeping too well for the last couple of years and was thinking of giving it up.
“The idea was to sell it next year and I just said, ‘why don’t I just buy it off you? And that way it keeps it in the family’.
“My mum likes to keep around as well and keep the standards up; it’s got a good reputation. It’s a favourite for the community.”
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