Member Article

Central Bean expands to central England

One of the North East’s leading independent coffee shop names is expanding its portfolio outside of the region.

Forming the first of Newcastle-based leisure company Vaulkhard Group’s wider expansion plans for its coffee shop brand, Central Bean will open in Stocksbridge’s new retail park, Fox Valley, on June 16 - eight years since opening its first shop in Gallowgate, Newcastle in 2008.

The £300,000 investment from Vaulkhard Group will see the new 3500sq. metre coffee shop hold 120-seated, with an outside area to accommodate an additional 32 seated, complete with landscaped gardens, contemporary stone benches, TV screens and a fountain within the landlords peace gardens.

The £50million retail park scheme is being developed by South Yorkshire based Dransfield Properties Ltd, the company who led the regeneration of Sanderson’s Arcade in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Brand manager for Central Bean, Kieran Holliday said: “With Central Bean already established in Sanderson’s Arcade, Mark (Dransfield) presented this opportunity to Vaulkhard Grou and we were instantly excited. As a result, we became one of the first businesses to sign up to the scheme three years ago.

“It is challenging to expand outside of the North East but it also opens up doors to be able to develop and drive the brand further. It is important to us to have a presence in quality market towns rather than just larger cities.

“By joining Mark in his latest retail park scheme, we hope to strengthen our reputation for providing quality coffee and refreshments within the Midlands. Central Bean is a name that is enjoyed by many across the North East and we envisage a significant growth programme to other parts of the UK over the coming years.”

The new Central Bean will be located in an attractive stand-alone iconic umbrella shaped building in the centre of the park, inspired by the paragon umbrella frame, which was patented by Samuel Fox in the 1850s in his workshop, that’s less than 100 yards away from the coffee shop.

Managing director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield, said: “We are extremely fortunate to be able to welcome Central Bean to the new development.

“Fox Valley is a new town centre for an area which has been really underserved by retail outlets and restaurants. Besides being passionate about supporting independent retailers, the Central Bean brand, for me, stands for quality and I am delighted that the shop will be pinnacle within the development.”

The opening of Central Bean in Fox Valley will create 20 new jobs taking Vaulkhard Group’s total headcount to 265.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Crulley .