A pharmacist has opened an Italian coffee shop in the same building where he spent much of his childhood.

Morteza Balaie, along with his wife Farah Balaie and her brother Alucci Hatab, known as Ali, launched Pinocchio House in Edenbridge High Street on Saturday, May 3.

The site holds deep personal meaning for Morteza, whose parents once ran a pet shop in the same space.

“I used to be a little boy in that shop,” he said.

“My parents owned it and I loved it here.”

When they sold the business and retired the premises was converted into an estate agency.

At the time, Morteza had qualified as a pharmacist, married Farah, and was living in south London, but when their first son Reza was born, they decided to return to Kent be closer to family.

They rented the flat above the estate agent, the very same building where Morteza had spent his early years, and often spoke about opening a café that would serve real Italian coffee.

The dream was especially meaningful to Farah, whose family background is partly Italian.

“This is something that we always dreamed of having,” Morteza said.

“In our village, there wasn’t such an Italian coffee shop.”

Some time later, better job opportunities led the family back to south London again, where their second son, Ramzy, was born.

Still, the idea of opening a café never faded.

“To our great joy, the very building in Edenbridge had just come up for sale, the one where I spent my childhood, where we once lived, and where we had so many good memories,” Morteza said.

“We didn’t hesitate and moved back here.”

During renovations, the team noticed a curved architectural detail on the building’s awning that caught their attention.

“We looked at it from an angle while painting the building and thought, this looks almost like a P,” Morteza said.

They decided to highlight the original shape as a nod to the past and what the building had come to mean to them.

“For us, it stands for positivity, purpose, patience, persistence – and of course, Pinocchio,” he said.

Ali, an accountant and Morteza’s brother-in-law, said they travelled across Italy to find the best coffee.

“But it was the one from Caserta that really stood out,” he added.

“When we tried it, we just knew it was the right one.”

The connection came through a neighbour who used to import Italian products to the UK, however after Brexit, it gradually became too expensive.

“There were customs charges, delivery fees,” Ali explained,

“It just wasn’t sustainable for him anymore.”

Although the business ended, the neighbour invited them to Italy and introduced them to the coffee producer, leading to the partnership they have today.

The Pinocchio House also serves a caffeine-free alternative called Orzo, a roasted barley drink popular in Italy.

“As a pharmacist, I didn’t want to serve processed decaf, Morteza said.

“So we sourced Orzo.

“It tastes like coffee but contains no caffeine, a healthier option, and more traditional.”

On the food menu are fresh croissants, small fruit-topped tarts inspired by Italian patisseries, and cronuts, a mix between croissants and doughnuts.

“They’re quite different, Morteza said.

“I only learned about them recently, but they’re really popular.”

Customers can also choose savoury options, such as focaccia or croissant’s sandwiches filled with bresaola, which Morteza described as “like Parma ham, but from beef”, served with mozzarella and rocket.

For those with dietary needs, gluten-free pastries and sandwiches are available.

“I was really disappointed to see how few gluten-free options most cafés offer,” Morteza said.

“So we made sure to include them, it’s something we’re proud of.”

For Morteza and Ali, Pinocchio House is more than just a café.

They want it to becomes a space where people feel at ease to open up, connect and reflect.

“The idea is you’re holding a Pinocchio’s cup, talking over coffee and telling your story, the real side of life,” Ali said.

The name Pinocchio House was never just about a fairytale.

“There are so many layers to this journey.

“My childhood here, Farah’s Italian roots, the coffee from Caserta, even the incredible story of Pinocchio, it all connects,” Morteza said.

“Pinocchio believed in himself and overcame his challenges to become who he was meant to be. A real boy!

“That’s what this café means to us it’s our dream becoming real too.”

“This coffee shop was created with love,” Ali added.