Comedian opens coffee kiosk to continue son's legacy

Actor Justin Moorhouse has spoken about how he is dealing with the loss of his 28-year-old son - as he opens a new coffee kiosk in his memory.

Moorhouse found his son, Barney, unresponsive at his Manchester flat in December.

Following his son's "heartbreakingly sad" death, the comedian, who is best known for his appearances in Phoenix Nights and Coronation Street, told the BBC he would try to "look for joy" amid the grief.

Comedian John Bishop was among those joining the actor - who previously worked alongside his son at the kiosk Barney's - at the new venue at Thornfield Park in Heaton Moor on Saturday. Moorhouse said: "It is continuation, not commemoration - he's still there with us."

"Barney and I were really close," Moorhouse told BBC Radio Manchester. "We told each other every day we loved each other, and we worked together as well.

"He went too soon and I just miss him - I miss him like you wouldn't believe.

"The night he died, I had this moment... an awakening or whatever you want to call it.

"And it was this sense of calmness where I had this space to make a choice - and I feel so lucky that I had this choice to make.

"And my choice was either go one way or the other. I either cloak myself in grief, and that defines how I deal with the loss of Barney - or I face forward, I open my heart, and I become the sort of person that looks for joy."

Since Barney's death, Moorhouse said he has heard numerous stories from his son's customers, and his colleagues, about his son's connection with them and his kindness.

Moorhouse said the outpouring of love for his son had inspired him to re-open the venture they had started together - and "go forward in the way Barney would've hoped."

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