A dozen full English breakfasts served in the first couple of hours at the Corner Cafe – a new business in a popular venue

After being closed for three months over the summer the former Dory’s Cafe has re-opened as the Corner Cafe at the junction of St Albans Road and Barnet High Street.

It is new beginning for Kevin Callaghan, proprietor of the former Hole in the Wall Cafe which is about to be demolished during clearance of the Meadow Works site on the Great North Road at Pricklers Hill.

Fortuitously just as Dory’s cafe was closing down at the end of July – after 71 years in business – Mr Callaghan was on the lookout for new premises for the Hole in the Wall.

Said to be the town’s oldest cafe, the Hole in the Wall was tucked away behind hoardings and was one of the last small firms to vacate the Meadow Works site before work starts on the construction of a new self-storage depot.

Moving up the Great North Road to High Barnet – and re-opening in the former premises of another local institution – has presented Mr Callaghan with the challenge of living up the popularity of Dory’s.

He and his staff had the weekend to transfer the business ready for a Monday morning start.

“Everything had been left spick and span by Angela and Guiliano so we started cooking straightaway.

“We did a dozen full English breakfasts in our first couple of hours, so we know what some of our customers appreciate.

“Everyone has given us a warm welcome.

“It’s really nice to be up in High Barnet in the town centre.

“I think it’s going to be very lively for us.”

The Hole in the Wall’s position on the Great North Road on the approach to High Barnet had led it become a well-used pit stop for lorry drivers and motorists heading out of London.

Developers Compound Real Estate have promised Mr Callaghan a new home for the Hole in the Wall as part of what it says will be a development comprising a new state-of-the-art self-storage facility and co-working spaces.