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A coffee and vape lounge has opened in Shirley where you can sit back, relax with an e-cigarette, drink and slice of cake while you watch the football or boxing.

Goodfella Vapes in Wickham Road sells vaping equipment as well as coffee and cakes.

Floor to ceiling shelving about five metres long is filled with vape juices of all kinds of flavours from a variety of brands, including Vampire, Double Drip, Pocket Fuel and Monster.

The shop, which is in the old office of former Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, specialises in selling the vape brand, Aspire.

The coffee shop serves a brand of coffee called Guglielmo, which comes from the Calabria region of South Italy where the family one of the shops owners. Franco Iannelli, hails from.

You don’t have to vape to enjoy a coffee in the shop, which has Wi-fi and is well ventilated, explained Franco.

As well as Franco, 33, who lives in Beckenham, the coffee shop is also owned and run by Ricky Walton, 30, who lives in Shirley and Tony Martineaux, 30, who lives in Bromley.

All three have other jobs as well – Franco owns the barbers, Franco & Pino, just two doors down, while Tony is an electrician and Ricky works in traffic maintenance.

(Image: Grant Melton)

Franco said: “It’s just a place for people to come and chill and just relax, vape, have a coffee and meet new people.

“You would be quite surprised about how many people you meet. You make new friends.”

Fresh milkshakes are also made up – you could choose a chocolate milkshake made from a Mars or Snickers bar or maybe a fruit milkshake made with fresh ingredients.

Soft vanilla ice cream and slush drinks are also available.

There are an array of freshly made cakes and muffins to choose from.

(Image: Grant Melton)

TV screens show live sport, including the main events, such as big football matches and boxing.

The shop is open from 9am to 9pm on weekdays, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and 9am to 4pm on Sundays but will close later if a late game is carrying on.

And feedback from customers has been positive, said Franco, who said they plan to serve alcohol in the future.

Franco said: “The majority of people have been saying this area has needed something like this. There is no vaping lounge here so they are happy about it.”

And he is enjoying running the new business too.

Franco said: “I like the good atmosphere,” he said.

You can keep up with the news on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/goodfellavapes/