A husband-and-wife team are set to take their business to the next steps after a successful first year.

Warren and Michelle Lipman opened Brass Monkey in Watling Street, Radlett, in March 2022.

The duo have announced that at the start of October the coffee shop will move next door into larger premises and the art gallery will be homed in the former eatery.

Watford Observer: Left: Warren Lipman. Right: Work is taking place on the shop on the right for the Brass Monkey to move into. Left: Warren Lipman. Right: Work is taking place on the shop on the right for the Brass Monkey to move into. (Image: Warren Lipman)

Brass Monkey was launched after Warren, a self-confessed coffee enthusiast, was disappointed he could not buy a coffee he liked from a shop in the village.

He said: “Last year the coffee machine broke down in my home and for a man who needs a coffee every morning, it was a time of crisis.

“It surprised me that in Radlett we did not have a specialty coffee shop.”

Watford Observer: Art will move in the the gallery, but it will still be on the new coffee shop's walls.Art will move in the the gallery, but it will still be on the new coffee shop's walls. (Image: Warren Lipman)

When he opened Brass Monkey, he decided to have art for sale on the walls as well.

He said: “My wife and I have collected art for the last 20 years but most of it came from London and the home counties.

“There isn’t anywhere round here where you can buy affordable art to decorate the home with.”

Watford Observer: An inside and outside look of the current coffee shop that will soon be home to the art gallery An inside and outside look of the current coffee shop that will soon be home to the art gallery (Image: Warren Lipman)

The coffee shop has been a huge success, but Warren said he was not expecting the art to be as popular.

He said: “When we launched last year the coffee was free over the weekend and loads of people came to the shop.

“When I sat down on Monday and went through the sales, I saw the second customer had their coffee, bought a croissant and a piece of art.

“Over the last year most of the items we have put up have sold.”

Watford Observer: The Brass Monkey teamThe Brass Monkey team (Image: Warren Lipman)

The new gallery and larger coffee shop will offer customers “a bit of an experience”.

“We will still have art in the new coffee shop, but people will be able to go into the gallery too. It means they won’t have to stand over tables when people are eating,” he said.

Warren added: “We’ve been humbled by the support so far. The team is local, we use local products, and our coffee is outstanding.”