FIELD & Fawcett, the award-winning wine merchants on the outskirts of York, plans to open a café next month once the final pieces are put in place.

Located at Grimston Bar, on Hull Road close to the A64, The Café at Field & Fawcett will offer home-cooked, best-of-British classics and traditional favourites with a twist from early mornings to 4pm.

Spearheaded by Cathryn Fawcett, who owns Field & Fawcett with husband Peter, The Café is located in the same farm buildings from which the wine merchants has been operating for ten years.

Field & Fawcett provides wine to some of the country's best restaurants and hotels, and, through its delicatessen, sells wine and gourmet food to retail customers.

The Café will seat 30, within an interior and style conducive with the existing shop and surroundings. It will open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm, with breakfasts one of the core dishes.

Crucially, especially where this column is concerned, The Café will also be licensed and will host Field & Fawcett wine tasting evenings.

Cathryn is looking to pick up the early trade from business travellers, commuters to York and tourists from the A64, as well as daily trade from residents.

And she is keen that customers enjoy a range of food - the kind that will set them up for the day - in a relaxed atmosphere.

Says Cathryn: "As a family business we were keen to expand and The Café was the natural next step. We have converted one of the barns at Bingley House Farm into a café with access to a sunny terrace.

"We're only working with the best suppliers and therefore using just the finest ingredients to ensure our food is a combination of home-cooked, seasonal and simple dishes with quality and seasonality a big part of our philosophy.

"We look forward to welcoming new customers and hope our regular visitors will also find the time to relax and enjoy The Café."

The new sideline will employ six new people, including cook Claire Yeomans, who was originally at the Mulberry Hall café. This is in addition to the team of four at the wine merchants, not including Cathryn and Peter.

* ON a different note, The Wine Society has a new 2013 red in its own-brand range which we reckon is rather good as an affordable, cheery, everyday drink which you won't find elsewhere.

Sicily has become known for some great value wines from local grapes and this The Society’s Sicilian Reserve Red, priced at £7.50, is a good example, much like the 2012 vintage that was brought in last year.

Made with Nero D'Avola grapes ("black of Avola", giving you a clue about the grape's dark colour) from the windy south coast of the sun-baked island, it is a smooth, mellow drink with enough dark red summer fruit to keep it interesting and a touch of earthiness and pepper to add a bit extra. It's available via thewinesociety.com.