A new collaboration is putting a creative twist on speciality coffee as Bristol independent Ape About Coffee launches its first city centre espresso bar in conjunction with vibrant social enterprise PAPER Arts.
Launching this Saturday 11th April, after a successful pop-up event at Easter, the new bar will feature a full selection of espresso-based drinks, as well as locally sourced cakes, snacks and lunch options.
Based in Bristol’s Merchant Street, PAPER Arts and its sister business Co-LAB exist to help talented individuals make a living through creativity. Visitors to the new espresso bar can either grab a takeaway or sit and enjoy a coffee alongside the latest exhibition in the on-site gallery where local artists showcase their work.
Ape About Coffee founder Nick Ashton, 37, is well known in the city for his former Piaggio Ape tuk-tuk mobile coffee bar. Since 2012, Nick and his team have been serving up quality coffee at a number of major local events including See No Evil, Upfest and the Big Green Market – as well as running a regular pitch at Whiteladies Road Farmers Market.
More recently, Nick has been working on corporate commissions including creating bespoke espresso bars for BMW, Dyson and Simply Health. But he is now relishing the idea of getting back to his roots.
“Having cut our teeth on some of the city’s most creative outdoor events, such as See No Evil in Nelson Street, we are excited about being back in the centre of town and teaming up with PAPER Arts,” says Nick, who is also a practising physiotherapist.
“Ape About Coffee has been part of the Bristol scene for a number of years now and while there is a lot of work that goes into producing a quality cup of coffee – our aim is to serve up a great product, not blind people with science. We hope to attract those who are new to coffee, as well as those seasoned espresso lovers seeking an independent choice away from the high street chains.”
Working with Nick at the new coffee bar will be existing team member Imogen Coulter and new intern Dan Bowler – both arts graduates.
They will be serving coffee roasted by Peter James at James Gourmet Coffee in Ross-on-Wye, including single estate coffee and seasonal espresso blends. Food and drink will be supplied by local independents Herberts Bakery, Lye Cross Farm, Henny & Joe’s and Lovely Drinks among others.
Customers can also choose from a selection of whole bean or freshly ground coffees to take home. Plus a range of Keep Cups and Aeropress items will be available to buy.
MD of PAPER Arts, Simone Kidner, says: “We are thrilled to team up with Ape About Coffee to offer a café service to all our customers and artists – as well as attract new people into the shop and gallery to discover what we are all about.
“Nick and the team at Ape are an ideal fit as, like the PAPER Arts community, they are committed to working in a field they feel passionate about. I am pleased they are supporting our ongoing internship programme too, which helps young people out of unemployment and into new creative roles where they can learn valuable skills.”
From Saturday 11th April, Ape About Coffee will be open at PAPER Arts on Merchant Street seven days a week, between 10am and 6pm Monday to Saturday and 11.00am and 5.00pm on Sundays.
You can find out more about Ape About Coffee on their website, on Facebook and on Twitter.