Bath-based artisan coffee shop chain Society Café is to open its fifth outlet after securing a deal to occupy a unit in a landmark redevelopment scheme.
The family-run business, which was founded in Bath 10 years ago, is to take over the ground floor unit of Alliance House on the corner of Baldwin Street and Broad Quay in Bristol city centre.
It will be Society Café’s second venue in Bristol, having opened in Farrs Lane on Harbourside nearly five years ago.
Alliance House, pictured, the ground floor of which was formerly occupied by a building society office, restaurant and small supermarket, is being redeveloped by Acorn Property Group’s Bristol office as 44 studio and one-bedroom apartments with commercial space on its ground and basement floors.
Society Café, which has two outlets in Bath – in Kingsmead Square and The Corridor – and one in Oxford, specialises in coffees from small local and regional roasters such as Round Hill in Bath and Origin in Cornwall, as well as loose leaf speciality teas, artisan hot chocolate, and cakes and pastries.
Jane Campbell-Howard, who co-owns the business with Adrian Campbell-Howard, said: “Our passion has always been looking after people and Society Café was born and has grown from that.
“Following the first sites in Bath, we opened Bristol Harbourside in 2017 and it has proven very successful and been really well received, which we greatly appreciate.
“We knew that we wanted to expand in Bristol, but finding a site had proved challenging, as we wanted to ensure that it was right in every way, not just about footfall, but also environment and community.
“Alliance House was then recommended to us and after an initial viewing and meeting Acorn we knew that it was right for us.
“The building is beautiful and has been renovated and restored, rather than newly built so is more environmentally friendly.”
Acorn Property Group regional managing director Robin Squire added: “Alliance House, which is over 90% sold, is bringing life back to the city centre, through creating new homes and commercial space.”
The re-development of Alliance House is being managed under the Acorn Green brand. Mr Squrie said re-using an existing building in this way embodied its principles – with a commitment to the implementation of the best possible design and technologies to further drive down the carbon footprint of our homes.
