Couple looking for new start after outbreak of war in Ukraine open Clouds of Felixstowe, in Hamilton Road

A couple looking for a new start after the outbreak of war in Ukraine have opened up a café offering a taste Eastern European culture.

Tobin and Katya Auber, 53 and 43, welcomed customers to Clouds of Felixstowe, in Hamilton Road, last Friday.

Customers will have the chance to try homemade cakes from Eastern Europe, including a traditional Ukrainian cheesecake and a layered Napoleon cake – another traditional delicacy, but from Russia.

In the coming weeks, the menu will expand to include sweet and savoury pancakes with popular fillings from that region.

Tobin said the pancakes will be the staple of the business.

“Felixstowe has such an amazing mix of people,” said the father of three. “We looked around other towns in Suffolk – and they were all lovely – but Felixstowe stood out to us.

“It has the port, the beach and beautiful Hamilton gardens – they’re quite something.

“The promenade is excellent too. There is a lot of things going on in the town. I think it has a lot of potential.”

The pair, who lived in Russia for nearly 30 years, moved to the UK in November of last year before settling in Felixstowe in April.

Tobin grew up in north London but moved to Russia after graduating from Norwich university with a degree in English and film. He met Katya in Russia.

He said his interest in the Russian language is what pushed him to make the move in 1993.

“I moved to Russia thinking I’ll be there just for one year, but I stayed there for 30 years,” he said.

“We left the country because we were completely against the Kremlin and the current regime.”

The couple both with backgrounds in the media industry wanted to start a new chapter.

They said it was difficult to find a job in the UK as most of their experience and qualifications were to do with the Russian language.

Tobin said: “Everyone that we’ve met here was very understanding of the fact that we wanted to get out of Russia before the invasion, which is very difficult to do when you have children, but after the invasion we had to get out.

“A lot of people have been very kind and sympathetic to that.”

When asked what it has been like running his own business, Tobin added: “It’s almost like we’re in a reality show, but everyday we’ve doubled the amount of customers, so we feel like we’ve been going in the right direction.”

Clouds of Felixstowe also offers a selection of teas, coffee and milkshakes.

It also has outdoor seating.

An official launch party is set to be announced within the coming weeks.