The Shack in The Maltings, Stowmarket, will open this week

An award-winning restaurant owner has turned his hand to family-friendly dining, with a new business in Stowmarket.

The Shack will be run by Marc Rogers, who owned The Angel in Needham Market until it was closed in February as the building was unfit for use.

Marc, who will officially open his new, bigger restaurant at The Maltings in Stowmarket on Thursday, said: “It will be totally different. The Angel was more of a cafe with a bistro feel in the evenings, and with tapas nights.

“The Shack will be a lot more focussed on family dining. We may keep up the tapas events and our food will remain homemade, but we are moving away from English and French dishes to offer food like pancakes, waffles and pulled pork.

“I have two young daughters, and I just felt the area needed a food venue that offers a more exciting experience for them. We will have an arcade machine and air hockey, and hope to be more of a key feature of the town – somewhere you might go with the lads or take your children.”

Two of the three staff members Marc employed at The Angel will be moving over to work at The Shack, which he says will ensure the same level of friendly customer service that locals came to expect.

In August 2021, the Needham Market restaurant was awarded with a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award, which recognises venues among the best ten percent in the world for their customer reviews.

Old customers have been supportive of the new venture, with Marc’s Facebook status introducing The Shack getting over 270 likes and many ‘good luck’ comments.

Marc continued: “Thank you to everyone who has helped and offered words of support, and I hope I will see them in The Shack.”

The new venue will be close to the train station, and Marc hopes to serve people who fancy a coffee and a brownie while they wait for their train.

The Shack will be open between 9.30am and 8pm between Thursday and Monday, and close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Unlike the old premises, the new one has a music licence to help build an atmosphere.