Gloucester is to get another coffee shop – but this one is aiming to be a little bit different.
Forum Coffee is an independent specialty coffee shop that is set to open in The Forum, Gloucester, this spring.
It will be a stone’s throw from the University of Gloucestershire’s new City Campus in King’s Square.
Working with Gloucestershire-based roastery Ethical Addictions, Forum Coffee sources coffee directly from farmers around the world.
Forum Coffee co-founder Hudson Talbot said: “This is our first specialty coffee shop, so finding the right flagship location was crucial for us, and The Forum immediately felt like the right fit.
“It gives us the space to do something genuinely different and to showcase what our coffee is all about. We’re excited to create a coffee shop that Gloucester hasn’t experienced before.”
The new coffee shop is just a short walk from Gloucester’s bus and train stations and the revamped King’ Square.
Alongside quality hot drinks and a high-quality food menu, a dedicated “roasters’ corner” will give customers the chance to meet the team, learn about the roasting process and see the beans up close.
The Forum is a major project that is transforming King’s Square. It includes new offices, a new multi-storey car park, and a new hotel is due to open this spring.
The £107m mix use development created by Gloucester County Council and Reef and Partners has delighted Councillor Jeremy Hilton who said: “The Forum is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity for Gloucester, and it’s great to see independent businesses choosing to make it their home.
“Supporting local enterprises to grow and the new jobs that they create is central to our vision for a thriving city economy. I’m delighted to welcome Forum Coffee to this landmark development and look forward to the energy it will bring to the city centre”.
Peter Langley-Smith, managing director of Reef + Partners, said: “Forum Coffee is exactly the kind of independent business this space was created to support. From the outset, our ambition has been to keep The Forum rooted in Gloucester by championing local businesses with strong values and a clear vision.
Local contractor Cobus Spaces has begun working on the internal fit-out, following their successful completion of the neighbouring Patch at The Forum. The third generation Gloucester firm has delivered high-quality design and build office projects across the UK for over 20 years, working with a range of clients in the workplace and higher education sectors.
The team is currently recruiting key roles including general manager, kitchen lead and head barista, with front-of-house roles to follow closer to opening. Early hires will play a part in shaping the menu, culture and overall approach.
