CAFÉS, tea rooms and venues across Southampton are set to thrive next week as the city takes part in UK Coffee Week.

GO! Southampton has partnered with UK Coffee Week to bring the event to Southampton and raise vital funds for Project Waterfall.

During UK Coffee Week, cafes, bars and restaurants across the city will be offering caffeine-lovers coffee and cake for £4, with a portion of the proceeds going to the charity.

Among those encouraging locals to support UK Coffee Week is Val Stones, star of the Great British Bake Off , who recently visited Southampton to open Guildhall Square’s latest venue So:Cake.

She said: “This is a fantastic campaign to help raise money for such an important cause.

"Project Waterfall has such a positive impact on the lives of those it supports, and I look forward to enjoying my cup of coffee knowing that it will be making a difference.”

Project Waterfall is a charitable initiative delivering clean water, sanitation and education to coffee-growing communities.

In 2018, UK Coffee Week raised over £245,000, with donations being used to help fund the start of Project Waterfall’s four-year programme which aims to bring clean drinking water and sanitation to over 10,000 people in the rural Jabi Tehnan district of Ethiopia.

Southampton’s involvement in the week is being co-ordinated by GO! Southampton, which is the Business Improvement District (BID) for the city.

Funded and led by local business, it exists to implement improvements to the city centre with the long-term goal of realising Southampton’s potential as a world-class city.

Giles Semper from the organisation said: “The humble cup of coffee is actually really important to Southampton’s economy.

"The numerous cafes and coffee houses we have in the city centre not only generate employment but also support other businesses through the products and services they use.

"We’re proud to support UK Coffee Week and it’ll be a great chance to showcase some of the fantastic venues we have here in the city centre.”