AN INDEPENDENT coffee house in Southampton has expanded to open its second outlet next to one of the city’s most historic landmarks.

Mettricks Tea and Coffee has added to the existing outlet in High Street with a new pop-up coffee house just yards away from the medieval Bargate monument.

The original Mettricks branch opened in High Street two years ago and its founder says he wants the new venue to “fulfil the demand for better tea and coffee that exists in the city centre”.

The new outlet will be open until the end of the year and there is a possibility it may become a permanent fixture on Above Bar if it is successful.

It has already been announced that the Mettricks will be one of the host venues for this year’s Music In The City festival which will feature a host of acts.

It will also feature performances as part of Southampton Film Week and the So:ToSpeak festival which will feature poetry, “flash fiction” theatre and more.

It is also set to host exhibitions by Red Hot Press and unit11 studios.

Founder Spencer Bowman told the Daily Echo: “We are on a mission to bring better tea and coffee to our great city.

“We are calling time on bitter, burnt coffee, scalded milk and the proliferation of characterless chain outlets that make every shopping centre and high street identical – we believe that Sotonians deserve better.

“Not only are we making a name for ourselves for the best tea and coffee, crafted by dedicated baristas, and the warmest hospitality in our city, but our team of chefs put just as much pride and passion into the quality and provenance of our brunch and lunch menu.”

He said Mettricks supports other small businesses from Southampton and Hampshire with suppliers including Graham Cotton and his bakery in Bitterne Park Triangle, Winchester fine tea merchants Char, New Forest Ice Cream, Uptons and Owtons city butchers and Bellows fresh foods.

As well as serving tea, coffee and food during the day the venue services bottled Hampshire real ales from Bowman, Ringwood, Itchen and Vibrant Forest breweries.