Marketplace
NEWS
It’s a special focus for our final issue of 2023, as we celebrate the incredible resilience within our industry with four exciting openings.
Chelsea sealed with a Kiss the Hippo Kiss the Hippo, the award-winning speciality coffee shop and roastery, has opened in Chelsea, London. Known for its house blend coffee, with tasting notes of chocolate, butterscotch and berries, Kiss the Hippo Chelsea opened its doors on November 4. To celebrate, the first 100 customers through the door received a complimentary coffee. It adds to their catalogue of London locations. The café at 285 Fulham Road spans 600 sq ft, boasting a minimalistic modern feel. Blending aesthetics and performance, the state-of-the-art Kees Van Der Western Spirit Espresso Machine takes centre stage. The wider space is adorned with refined Kristina Dam Studio Japanese dining chairs,
Audo Copenhagen Danish furniture and mood-setting lighting by Cedar and Moss. The signature George Street Blend of house espresso is sure to please, while an array of single origin and decaf options cater to diverse preferences. The café will also offer a range of pastries, cookies, focaccias and more. It’s five years since the first Kiss the Hippo café opened in Richmond, which at the time also housed the coffee roastery on site. Since then, the independent company has won the UK Barista Championships three times, while opening multiple locations. The brand also offers compostable pods, coffee bags, equipment, a subscription service and workshops, such as latte art and home brewing. Creative director at Kiss the Hippo, Maya Zara, said: “Everything we do here revolves around care – from how
we meticulously source and roast our beans, to the thoughtful design of our spaces. We’re beyond excited to bring Chelsea the most delicious and sustainable coffee, handcrafted with passion and precision.” Hannah Grievson, property director at Sloane Stanley, said: “Kiss the Hippo is a solid addition to the Fulham Road. Not only does its unique concept appeal to consumers from a sustainability perspective, but it delivers a bespoke retail element and boasts a strong community offer, mirroring the ethos of the Chelsea neighbourhood.”
Paddy & Scott’s opens Midlands site Paddy & Scott’s, the renowned coffee company founded in Suffolk, has announced the grand opening of its newest location in Lichfield, Midlands. This expansion marks an exciting milestone for the company as it continues to grow its UK presence. Lichfield is notably home to Charles Darwin’s grandfather and is birthplace of Doctor Johnson, along with the city’s magnificent three-spiked cathedral. Now, Paddy & Scott’s, the sustainability and community-focused brand, is set to entice the people of Lichfield with food and drink. It includes Muchomba coffee – a balanced blend, with dark chocolate
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notes. It’s described as coffee with a story and one that is supporting the business’ farm in Kenya. This is a significant step forward for Paddy & Scott’s, when many companies are having to close their doors. The brand’s forward-thinking approach and ability to adapt to the current climate and trends in a reactive but measurable way are the reasons this expansion is possible. Scott Russell, founder of Paddy & Scott’s, said: “This is a very exciting time for us as a business. A new café means a new chapter. I’m thrilled our coffee will be fuelling the ambition of the Lichfield community.”
The Lichfield site features the Paddy & Scott’s signature corrugated wall. The comfy seating and welcoming atmosphere will allow customers to savour their brew, whether they pull up a chair indoors or wish to take out to soak up the city.