Member Article

Police officer turned Muffin Break man opens new coffee shop

A retired police office has opened the second branch of his successful café and bakery business.

Bill Bentham has opened a branch Muffin Break in Middlesbrough with support from NatWest and partner Lombard – the bank’s dedicated asset finance arm.

Handcrafted coffee and homemade baked good will be available at the Hill Street café and 14 new jobs will be created as part of the development.

After working as a police officer for more than 30 years Bill decided to give business a go and looked into various opportunities while undertaking a business course.

He learned about Australian-chain Muffin Break and was advised to contact the banks to see what types of funding would be available to him.

Bill said: “I made a half-baked call to NatWest not entirely sure of what I needed and how the bank could support me. I was put in contact with relationship manager Richard Swan and before I knew it my first franchise was open.

“Our coffee is the best because it is handcrafted and made with care, and our baked goods are all fresh and homemade.”

The Washington franchise which is located in The Galleries proved so popular Bill decided to see if he could expand his business.

He said: “I was thinking about a new café earlier this year. Richard and I have a catch up every couple of months and this came a few weeks after I started thinking about the new business.”

NatWest and Lombard provided a £192,230 start up package with NatWest providing facilities of £152,230 and Lombard £40k.

Bill said: “It’s exciting to see the business expand and develop.”

Richard added: “We were very pleased to support Bill and this latest development of his business. We wish him and Muffin Break every success in for the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .