An independent coffee shop is opening a new co-working floor as a change of scene for people working from home.

Sonder Coffee opened for the first time on April 13, a day after phase two of lockdown ended.

The cafe is on High Street near Halifax, and currently has two floors open for coffee and relaxation.

Owner Ebony Paz says their electrician is currently working on the cafe's third and final floor in preparation for a new cosy co-working floor.

The space will open in the next few months, either with a booking system or as a subscription service without the need to book.

Ebony said: "My partner Ben often works in a coffee shop for an hour or two and then will feel so uncomfortable that he will walk to another coffee shop so he doesn't feel like he's outstayed his welcome.

"Many customers come and work in Sonder, and they are excited for it to open. It will be nice for people to stay there as long as they need, without feeling uncomfortable.

"Many people are still not back in the office but are losing their minds because they have been at home for a year now."

The cafe initially started with one team member, but it has been so busy that Ebony has had to hire four more, and says she would love to open more branches in the future.

They are also extending the kitchen in preparation for a new food and drinks menu - "tapas, flatbread, one cocktail, one wine, one beer" - and have applied for a premise licence to sell alcohol and open in the evenings.

Ebony recently moved from Brighton and the change of life during the pandemic, along with some encouragement from partner Ben Holden and brother Harry Wroe, gave her the "push" to open Sonder.

She added: "It was scary to go self-employed and take the risk, but I couldn't be more grateful for how busy it's been."

Future events include a coffee morning book signing in September with cancer survivor Danielle McDermott, author of Bald, Brave, and Bloody Beautiful.

The cafe is also dog friendly and offers Puppacinos for dogs.

The name Sonder was inspired by the building, which has large windows "perfect for a sonder".

"Sonder" features in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book of words describing the emotions we don't yet have the words for.

It means: "the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own... in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background".

Sonder Coffee is open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.

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