It is a coffee and comic shop that certainly deserves to be bigger on the inside than on the outside.

East Anglian Daily Times: A new Dr Who themed coffee shop has been opend on Lowestoft High street by Jim Poole. Jim Poole, Beatrix Poole, Nikoya Sutton and Henry Baker.A new Dr Who themed coffee shop has been opend on Lowestoft High street by Jim Poole. Jim Poole, Beatrix Poole, Nikoya Sutton and Henry Baker. (Image: ©Archant 2013)

Fans of Doctor Who have been materialising in ever increasing numbers to visit Dawn of Time since it opened its doors last month.

From its Tardis-like entrance to a menacing Dalek and look-alikes of the Doctor and some of his brave companions, the shop in the High Street, Lowestoft, is a science fiction Mecca dedicated to Doctor Who.

Its owner, Jim Poole, can often be seen in the coffee and comic shop dressed up as the second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton in the 1960s.

The manageress and Mr Poole’s business partner, Nikoya Sutton, bears an uncanny resemblance to Amy Pond, who travelled with Matt Smith’s Doctor in the Tardis.

And as Mr Poole’s 17-year-old daughter Bea serves coffee she likes nothing better than to dress up as the seventh Doctor’s companion, Ace, who famously used a baseball bat to attack Daleks.

The Lowestoft shop’s IT expert, Henry Baker, is also getting in on the act as he resembles the fifth Doctor, who was played by Peter Davison,

As well as the eye-catching doubles, the store has two of the programme’s most evil aliens, a Dalek and a Cyberman, and one of The Doctor’s most faithful helpers, K-9, on display.

And the shop could soon be getting the seal of approval from a “real” Doctor as it is hoped that early next year John Hurt, who played The Doctor in last month’s 50th anniversary special and lives near Cromer, will visit Dawn of Time.

Mr Poole, 45, an IT engineer, said: “Word of mouth is spreading about Dawn of Time and we have had people up from London visiting.

“It is a place where people can enjoy a nice coffee and tea and talk about their favourite programme as well, if they are a fan. I think Doctor Who is such a special programme as it can take you anywhere, from the far future to the distant past.”

Plans are also afoot to have another of the Doctor’s scariest foes, a Weeping Angel, at the shop.

Dawn of Time also has a growing collection of comics, including one of the first X-Men comics from 1963.

In a strange coincidence the shop had been one of the town’s first milk bars in 1963 – the same year Doctor Who was first broadcast. Dawn of Time is open Monday to Saturdays, with staff dressing up on Saturdays.