A brand-new coffee shop has opened in Thornton Heath.

Nestled inside Thornton Heath railway station, 1507 Coffee is already serving up speciality brews, pastries, and Jamaican patties to people passing through each day.

But for owner Oshane Boothe, the café is about far more than coffee. Named after his son Romeo’s birthday, the business is also a tribute to his late grandfather, whose early morning coffee ritual in Jamaica inspired him to open the shop.

Oshane, who lives in Thornton Heath, told Your Local Guardian: “It’s been fantastic actually. It’s a good vibe, a lot of our clients have been coming in here. It’s wonderful.”

The independent café, located in Unit 1 inside the station, officially opened on August 3 following a family launch event the day before.

Oshane said: “The number 1507 actually relates to my son’s birthday. He was born on July 15, and I wanted to do something for him. The real strength behind it is my grandad and my son.

“I lived with my grandad for a while when my mum came to England to set herself up. Then she got herself in a better position to bring us over.”

He said some of his strongest memories are of his grandfather waking before dawn to make coffee before heading to work.

Oshane added: “Every time I went back to visit my grandad he would get up at around 4.30 am making some nice black coffee.

“The smell was so strong. I thought, ‘Grandad is ready to go back to work.’ It takes you right back to your childhood.”

Years later, during a trip back to Jamaica to celebrate his grandfather’s 90th birthday, the smell of coffee inspired the idea for his own business.

Oshane said: “My grandad was preparing coffee again and it hit me. He wouldn’t eat anything in the morning.

“He’d just have a black coffee, go off to work and get on with life. That’s where it began.”

His grandfather died in 2022 at the age of 92, before the café opened its doors.

Oshane added: “He wasn’t aware this would become almost a way of never forgetting him.

“We’ve even got a few signature coffees named after my grandad and grandma.”

Alongside honouring his grandfather, Oshane said the business is also dedicated to his son, Romeo.

He said: “Me and my Mrs broke up in 2021 and the fact that I don’t get to see him all the time breaks my heart.

“I wanted to build something that he could always be proud of.”

Oshane said he wanted 1507 Coffee to be more than somewhere to grab a drink before catching a train.

He said: “We talk about making sales a luxury and building trust with clients. So, you feel connected to us.

“It’s not just for the sake of being transactional. You don’t know how much you can change someone’s day by giving them positive vibes.”

The shop serves speciality coffee alongside butter croissants and halal Jamaican patties, with plans to expand the menu over the coming months.

He added: “We wanted to offer Jamaican culture and give people a taste of the Caribbean while keeping it local.

“We’ll be introducing a Jamaican lunch menu with a fusion of British food and then eventually upgrading to a Jamaican takeaway.”

Transforming the station unit into a café was no easy task. Oshane explained: “The fit-out was me coming here every single day and painting.

“I’ve been locked in the station for three nights in a row doing painting. I’m about 95 per cent complete now – it’s just the final details.”

He added that store manager Edna and family member Jamelia, a university student, have played a key role in creating the welcoming atmosphere he wants customers to experience.

Looking ahead, Oshane believes Thornton Heath has an exciting future.

He said: “A lot of people see the noise around here and get distracted.

“But Thornton Heath is up and coming.

“You’ve got businesses being renewed, the unit next to us has had a wonderful refit and there are more businesses opening further down the road.

“There’s a lot of culture and a lot of vibes here.”

Just over a month since opening, Oshane said the response from residents and commuters has exceeded his expectations.

“It’s been brilliant,” he said. “We’ve been averaging more than local coffee shops already.

“We’re just connecting with the community and making people feel welcome. That’s what it’s all about.”