THE owner of a cafe which closed after more than 35 years in York's city centre has returned to serving lunches.

However instead of running an 88-seater cafe with a team of 16 staff, Anthony Gibbons is selling sandwiches from a small shop in Shambles.

The venture marks a return to the city centre lunch trade for Mr Gibbons following the closure of his cafe The Danish Kitchen, in High Ousegate, which shut its doors in January to make way for burger chain Byron.

Following a short-break from the industry, Mr Gibbons has purchased the former Mr Sandwich shop in Shambles, relaunching it as The Lunch Box @No 37.

Mr Gibbons said: "I was just taking a break for a bit, then I wanted to get something a bit smaller, and this is definitely smaller.

"I always wanted to stay in the catering industry, it is all I have ever done and I enjoy it.

"The opportunity to buy this business came up and it was something that appealed to me.

"Because it's in the middle of the Shambles it's busy with tourists and locals alike and so far things have been very busy."

Speaking last year Mr Gibbons said he was closing The Danish Kitchen, which was created by his parents Colin and Audrey in 1977, because the business was no longer viable.

Now he says he has found "the perfect place" to operate as an independent retailer.

He said: "I bought the Mr Sandwich shop out of the franchise it was part of as I wanted to run something of my own.

"It's a great atmosphere down here for independent retailers as it's what customers expect to see when wandering down the Shambles.

"A lot of the near by businesses have called in to say hello and are very friendly and welcoming.

"We've had lots of our old customers from the cafe popping in too as well as seeing lots of new faces."

See Thursday's Press for a voucher for a free hot drink with every sandwich purchase from The Lunch Box @No 37.