Nick Hart, head of retail investment at JLL, is opening a café in Wargrave, Berkshire that will also become part of Rapha Cycling Club’s network of partner cafés.
The café, called H’artisan, is a side-venture for Hart, who will continue to work full-time at JLL. It will launch on 30 January to offer a takeaway service during the lockdown.
Hart and his wife Sarah, a qualified nutritionist who will run the café, bought the freehold for the property in 2018.
The specialty coffee shop includes an adjoining flat on the ground floor, which has been turned into a space providing bicycle racks for 40 cycle spaces, as well as a sun terrace at the back. Hart estimates that the total space measures around 2,500 sq ft.
Hart tells EG: “A lot of people think the timing could not be worse, but I think it could be perfect. It’s local, people really want to get out from being stuck in and I believe the future of the high street lies in the past… If you can curate a high-quality product and an environment that people want to visit, they will hopefully come.
“It has been super hard work, but it’s nice to share some positive retail news on a local high street and not to be a ‘theorist’ adviser, so to speak, and to really understand just how difficult it is to become a retailer as well as being a [retail property] adviser.”
He added that the duo has “endeavoured to curate a friendly, relaxed and warm community café” where people can “feel at home to spend time, relax, enjoy each other’s company whilst creating and sharing memories”.
Taylor St Baristas and Harris + Hoole co-founders Andrew Tolley and Laura Davis both advised on aspects of the café, with Davis consulting on design.
Rapha Cycling Club’s partner cafés focus on local cycling communities.
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