PEMBROKESHIRE’s first gluten-free and vegan-friendly café has opened in Haverfordwest.

Unpretentious opened its doors at 17 High Street on Saturday, October 27, with owners Peter Marezana and Vanessa Nathan-Marsh battling against an unexpected turn in the weather.

Peter had the idea to open a café after losing 25kg over the summer after changing to a gluten-free and vegan diet.

“The same things I used to help me to do that are the same things which will be on offer here,” he said.

Though he is not gluten-intolerant, Peter believes there is a growing societal awareness of the issue of providing gluten-free options as well as vegan friendly food.

“People were not aware of the issues ten or twenty years ago, whereas today people are more aware of the needs of gluten-free food.

“I think it has always been there but it has been neglected. I hope this café will address an actual need in the community.”

Using his own experience of gluten-free and vegan cooking, Peter has created recipes for food at the café which he thinks will be both tasty and nutritious and go beyond vegan and gluten-free offerings found elsewhere.

“The biggest thing we are trying to do is offer people good food which is nutritious and tasty and hopefully at a price which is affordable too.”

Friends, well-wishers, and local dignitaries attended the launch of the new café, with town mayor Cllr Sue Murray cutting the ribbon on the door and praising the launch of a new business on the High Street.

Peter and his fiancée Vanessa, who is a doctor at Withybush, cut a cake to celebrate the launch, gave their thanks to their supporters and went to work serving the stream of customers who piled through the door.

The café is open Monday to Saturday at 17 High Street, Haverfordwest.

For more information visit the Unpretentious Facebook page facebook.com/unpretentiouscafe