Heading up the long corrugated ramp felt like some kind of stripped back red carpet moment, and on entering the café, we were greeted with the smell of fresh coffee and baked cookies. Bliss.

For those that know us, it'll come as no surprise that we are forever on the lookout for more coffee shops and Alterna has been on our...

Cheltenham may not be the obvious next choice on that list for a lot of people, but on the face of it, it ticked every box for us: great food and coffee scene, culture, independent shops, and a slower pace of life...