Route One Cycle Cafe along Deal seafront is set to open its doors for the first time today for the Boxing Day Dip.

As sponsors of the annual Boxing Day Dip, the cafe will be offering a takeaway menu to warm up spectators and participants.

This £100,000 project is run by Deal Tri vice-chairman Gary Holmes, Lorraine Lyons, Lydia Showan and Deal Tri chairwoman Yvonne Hankin and is aimed at cyclists and walkers looking for a pit stop in Deal.

Mr Holmes said: “We will be donating a percentage of profits to the organisers of the charity swim who are supporting Deal and District Strokes and Deal Breastfeeding Support Group.

“Our opening is dependent upon everything being finished and certified inside the cafe of course, but it’s all looking good at the moment. It’s just about there.”

The cafe will be open for the day and then will have an official opening in January.

He said: “The full service and menu will be available for all, and the owners, Yvonne Hankin, Lydia Showan, Lorraine Lyons and myself will be pleased to welcome you.”

The cafe will have CCTV cameras for customers to keep an eye on their bikes while enjoying a hot or cold drink and some healthy and hearty snacks.

This include a vintage Faema coffee machine – Faema used to sponsor one of the world’s greatest cyclists, Belgian Eddy Merckx, in the 1970s.

The cafe is at the site of the former Deal Angling HQ and public toilets in Beach Street, and will also include a cycle repair workshop.

The Boxing Day Dip will take place at 11am and for anyone wishing to get wet, sponsorship forms can be obtained from Margaret on 07836 669079.