A new venue promising an upmarket cosy date night vibe serving coffee by day and cheese and wine by night is set to open in County Durham next month.

Tam Ali, 29, and originally from Washington, is the mind behind the new venue Cork & Coffee which is hoping to open its doors to the public in mid-April following refurbishment works.

The venue, which will be located on Seaham's seafront (North Terrace), hopes to appeal to coffee lovers walking their dogs on a morning and become a favourite upmarket spot in the evenings.

The Northern Echo: The unit set to be Cork & Coffee in Seaham.The unit set to be Cork & Coffee in Seaham. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

"Myself and my business partners were looking at the seafront, and we realised that it just needed something a little bit different", Tam said.

"Something classy, a little bit more upmarket."

Although no specifics of the menu have yet been revealed, diners are told to expect high-quality charcuterie boards which include cheese and meats paired with selected wines.

Tam, who also works as a firefighter, added: "We are looking to expand into tapas later on, but charcuterie at the moment will be our food. 

"But, at the minute it is going to be a coffee vibe in the morning then from noon it will turn into a charcuterie and wine atmosphere. 

The Northern Echo: CGI image of what the finished venue could look like.CGI image of what the finished venue could look like. (Image: CORK AND COFFEE)

Video footage taken by Tam and his team shows a plethora of works ongoing inside the venue as he hopes they are now just six weeks out from their big opening day.

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However, word is already making its way around Seaham about the new business as Tam admits community support for the venture has been fantastic.

He added: "There is a lot of talk about it around town and it has all been really, really positive. The area needs it.

"I am really excited to open. I believe in it 100 per cent and I think it will work."