Latest coffee chain opening creates 30 jobs, with further NW expansion bubbling under
More than 30 jobs have been created with the opening of the latest Bob & Berts independent coffee and food chain site, in Blackpool.
The opening is part of a sustained expansion plan targeting a host of towns and cities across the North West.
Situated in the Houndshill Shopping Centre, between the iconic Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens site, the business has transformed a 3,500 sq ft unit into a coffee shop that reflects Bob & Berts’ relaxed, family-friendly style. The store’s 130-cover layout is split across two levels with an external dining area offering further seating for up to 24 covers.
The food offering focuses on an all-day breakfast menu, as well as a selection of summer light bites and lunch specials.
Bob & Berts serves its own artisan coffee that is hand-roasted in Northern Ireland using 100% arabica beans, as well as a range of milkshakes, frappes and smoothies. It has also introduced a range speciality ‘Fro-Los’ – frozen lemonade flavoured with peach, watermelon or strawberry for the summer season.
Founded in Portstewart in Northern Ireland in 2013 by Colin McClean, Bob & Berts is known for its distinctive style, quality offering and community-focused approach. Following a £2m investment from BGF in 2017, the business has grown to 27 sites across the UK and reported 58% sales growth in the 12 months ending June 30, 2022, reaching £17.8m.
Colin McClean said: “We’re extremely pleased to be opening our doors in the famous seaside town of Blackpool and we’re looking forward to a busy summer period welcoming both local customers and visitors to the area, giving them a taste of Bob & Berts’ hospitality with a delicious menu and proper coffee served all day long in our relaxed surroundings.
“Selecting the locations for our stores is all about finding sites where there’s an opportunity to meet the needs of the community – providing a relaxed environment with affordable food and drink and demonstrating our commitment to supporting the future of the local high street.”
David Ferguson, co-owner of Bob & Berts, said: “The Blackpool store marks our 27th opening in the UK and our sixth store in England alone. We’ve identified a strong pipeline of new sites as part of our continued expansion and will be opening our first site in Yorkshire in Wakefield this September, followed by new sites in Belfast city centre and Glasgow.
“We’re currently looking at other locations across the North of England including Rochdale, Burnley, Southport, Warrington and Liverpool as part of our strategic growth plan to reach 50 stores.”
