A POPULAR independent coffee and cake shop near St Austell has closed its doors for the last time.

Originally starting out in Charlestown before moving to Par, BB’s served its last customers at the end of October after experiencing rising costs and personal reasons.

Run by owner Sarah Burt, the self-described ‘cute little coffee shop’ served decadent sweet treats to the local community and beyond since September 2022.

A post on BB’s Facebook page read: "It’s with a very heavy heart that I have to announce that the shop will be closing its doors for good.

“For personal reasons, rising costs and sometimes when life throws you curve balls, you have to make difficult decisions, even when they break your heart.

“I also have two amazing staff members looking for new jobs, so if anyone knows of anything, please get in touch.

“Thank you to every single person who has supported me, my little business and my dream. It’s been one hell of a journey, and I’ll never forget it. This isn’t the end of me… it’s just the start of a new chapter.”

As one business moves out of the premises on Eastcliffe Road, another is set to arrive in the form of Tywardreath-based The Village Bakery.

Hoping to bring a traditional artisan bread bakery to the Par area, the business plan to make changes and renovations to the building before welcoming its first customers in due course.

The Village Bakery paid tribute to Sarah from BB’s in a post which read: “Over the past few weeks, Sarah and I have had many conversations, and we've been incredibly supportive of one another throughout what has been an emotional time.

“We, too, are heartbroken at the loss of BBS. Sarah has built something truly wonderful, and we completely understand and respect her reasons for closing this chapter.

“We are equally so excited, and feel incredibly lucky, to finally be getting a premises of our own to call home. But we would have much preferred it to happen under different circumstances, ones that didn't involve another amazing business closing its doors.

“Importantly, we know that we could never replace Sarah. She is a phenomenal baker, and when she makes her return to baking, we will 100 per cent support her.”