Foundation to mix coffee and design in Manchester
The venue, created by Dominic Beardwell, operations director at design studio NoChintz, and QDos Fitness founder Adam Chapman, will mix unique design with healthy fresh food and quality coffee, and aims to be used as a standalone event venue.
Chapman told BigHospitality: “Myself and Dominic both have gyms, and one of our frustrations is that there is very little in the way of fresh fast food in the city centre. We’d like to provide that in a nice setting.
The menu will include items like prepared salads, salmon and quinoa, but also more traditional coffee shop baked goods for those looking for a treat.
“There will also be treats alongside, we won’t serve wheatgrass and blended spinach, you will still be able to get a croissant or a pain au chocolat but there will also be very healthy and tasty options,” Chapman added.
Victorian building
The team just secured a site in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter, close to Piccadilly’s business area, and is investing £400,000 in the creation of the business.
“We’ll have up to 200 covers as we’ve got a big unit. The idea is that since we’re in a beautiful Victorian building, we want to play on that with very night design features for a shabby chic, retro look. We also want it as a venue for art exhibitions, music and comedy. We’d love it to be a genuine standalone venue for events as well,” Chapman explained.
The project’s creative director Natalie Gray has been exploring the world’s café concepts to refine the plans for the 3,500 sq. ft. space. “While Adam’s been expanding his knowledge of coffee, my team’s been exploring the environment and process in which it should be served,” she said.
The founders will initially create 12 jobs for the site, with recruitment set to start shortly.
Future expansion
The site opening this autumn will remain Foundation’s flagship store, but the team hopes to open four or five more locations in and around Manchester in the next two to three years, with a view to expand across the North of England if the concept proves successful.
“There are a few nice coffee houses in Manchester but the centre could definitely do with another one. We want to provide a really unique concept with the kind of interior that no one’s really seen before in the city, and with great fresh fast food,” added Chapman.
