An innovative, independent, local coffee house hopes to breathe new life into Stone High Street and quite possibly change the way we think about our socialising habits.
Midlands-based BEAR has announced that their long-awaited Stone store is moving full-steam-ahead in preparation to open its doors at the former HSBC bank on Thursday 1st November 2018. Confidently branding itself as #notanothercoffeeshop, the store promises to redefine the cafe-bar experience in Stone.
Founded in 2014 by entrepreneurs Craig Bunting and Michael Thorley, BEAR first found bricks and mortar at the site of a once iconic retail store at the top of Uttoxeter High Street, opening to the public for the first time on January 31st 2016.
They have since expanded to a former bank building in Derby’s beautiful Cathedral Quarter which opened its doors on the 1st December 2017, and BEAR have been serving beautifully crafted coffee, cocktails and fresh seasonal food ever since. 11 months on from the Derby opening, BEAR will be officially opening their doors to the already very welcoming community of Stone.
BEAR is making a substantial investment in a former bank property and are working closely with the local contractor, B3 Shopfitting, to fit out the empty building while taking care to protect any historical architectural features that remain. Since beginning their store fit-out, BEAR has already uncovered a beautiful parquet floor and original marble banking hall tiles. The team have since worked with their award-winning architects, turnerbates, to incorporate these aspects into the final interior designs, highlighting and preserving them wherever possible.
BEAR has recently recruited the General Manager for their new store, who will aid in the recruitment and training of the new team, and keep things running smoothly once the store opens to the public. Stone General Manager, Eddie Beeley, is eagerly anticipating the store opening:
“We’ve been working on a super exciting launch plan over the past few weeks and I can’t wait to start actioning some of the exciting ideas we have in place! I’m really looking forward to rallying my new team and get to work on wholly integrating ourselves in to the amazing Stone community.”
Co-Founder and Head of Operations at BEAR, Michael Thorley, tells us how things have been progressing behind-the-scenes so far:
“Working with Stone Town Council has been a breeze. They have supported us through all of our planning and seem really eager to help us succeed, which is obviously very encouraging! It’s great that they’re so committed to the development of their town and so proactive in making it happen.”
Despite missing this year’s Stone Food and Drink Festival BEAR will be holding a pop-up coffee stand outside their new High Street store during the Stone Food & Drink Festival weekend.
There are currently a selection of vacancies available at BEAR in Stone, check out their recruitment page over at https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Bear-Coffee-Company-Limited
The company is working to expand first throughout the Midlands, and then beyond, with hopes to open many more stores nationwide over the next five years. Although still young, BEAR is rapidly building a strong reputation as a dependable, responsible brand, sourcing local and fairtrade produce wherever possible, and promoting a positive, healthy lifestyle through their menus.
BEAR is a coffee shop, kitchen and bar, providing a new, all-day dining experience with an ethos of perfection that stems from their passion for great coffee; a passion that is evident in everything they do.
