A NEW community café has set up shop in the rather unusual setting of the East Oxford Health Centre.

Fully-licensed restaurant, bar and café Caffino opened last week in Manzil Way - offering food and drink between 7am and 11pm.

It is being run by Magdalena Kurt and her husband Yusuf, who own Tick Tock Cafe in Cowley Road.

The NHS had been looking for someone to provide a cafe in the new £13m building, which is home to two doctor's surgeries.

Mrs Kurt said: "I was looking for something slightly bigger with more space than Tick Tock and this place came.

"I thought it was a good idea and I would try making a business out of it and attract more people by doing something unique."

The kitchen is being run by Paul Smith, head chef at The Manor Hospital, off the London Road, Headington, and a key feature of the menu will be daily specials with a healthy side.

Mrs Kurt said she did not think it was strange that the restaurant would serve alcohol despite being in the health centre.

She said: "In the John Radcliffe Hospital they have a facility like this and in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre they have an alcohol licence as well.

"We only serve alcohol in the evenings and at weekends, when the doctor's surgeries are closed. After work the doctors and nurses can come here and have a glass of wine and something to eat."

As well as patients and staff working in the East Oxford Health Centre, she said she hoped to attract students, people working in Cowley Road and local residents.

She said: "There isn't anything like this on this side of Cowley Road, it's mostly Chinese or Indian food, so I think this will be successful."

The café seats about 120 people, has balcony seating and a smoking area and employs three chefs and four front-of house staff.