A POPULAR café in Chester which was famed for its cheese toasties has closed, with its owner having cleared the store on Sunday (September 24).

Meltdown owner Laura Lautrete - the Toastie Queen - took to Twitter to update customers after the business served its final sandwiches on September 18.

The unit on Queen's Park View in Handbridge has been emptied over the last week, however its owner says that she will be "popping up somewhere soon".

In a video showing the now empty café, Laura said: "That's it. It's completely empty and I'm just about to close the doors for the last time."

Meltdown has been much loved by locals since opening in 2017, with its imaginative cheese toastie combinations a favourite of many.

Ms Lautrete first announced that she would be looking to sell the business in June, saying that she wished to spend more time with her family and that the physical aspect of serving and running the business was becoming a challenge.

A buyer was initially found, however this sale later fell through. At the end of August, Laura announced that she had made the "difficult decision" to close Meltdown.

She said: "Hey Everyone,

"I’m really sorry but I’ve made the difficult decision to close Meltdown.

"Last service will be Sunday September 24th.

"I’d love to see all of your faces, and all of your money over these next four weeks.

"Lots of love.

"Laura xx"

The news prompted multiple messages of support on social media with customers quick to praise and thank Laura and the business. One person even said that the café's legendary toasties had been a defining factor in them buying a house nearby.

For those who were not able to visit Meltdown before its closure, Laura has hinted that she will be returning to Chester's food scene in the near future.